What information does an international search report provide?
An international search report is a crucial document produced as a result of the international search process under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). According to MPEP 1843, the international search report provides valuable information to various stakeholders in the patent process:
“The report provides information on the relevant prior art to the applicant, the public, the designated Offices, and the International Preliminary Examining Authority.“
The information contained in the international search report typically includes:
- Citations of relevant prior art documents
- Classification of the subject matter of the invention
- Indication of which claims the cited documents are relevant to
- Identification of the fields searched
This information helps in assessing the novelty and inventive step of the claimed invention and guides further examination and decision-making in the patent application process.
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