What information is available for published patent applications?
For published patent applications, the following information is generally available to the public:
- A copy of the application-as-filed
- File contents of the published application
- Specific documents in the file of the published application
- Status information (pending, abandoned, or patented)
- Application number
- Continuity data
According to 37 CFR 1.14(a)(1)(iii), “A copy of the application-as-filed, the file contents of the application, or a specific document in the file of a pending published application may be provided to any person upon request, and payment of the appropriate fee set forth in § 1.19(b).“
It’s important to note that if a redacted copy was used for publication, access may be limited to the redacted version.
To learn more: