What is the purpose of carefully administering restriction requirements?

The careful administration of restriction requirements serves an important public interest, as stated in MPEP 803.01:

“IT STILL REMAINS IMPORTANT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT NO REQUIREMENT BE MADE WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN THE ISSUANCE OF TWO PATENTS FOR THE SAME INVENTION.”

This practice helps prevent double patenting and ensures that each patent covers a distinct invention, promoting innovation and fair competition.

To learn more:

• restriction requirements
• public interest
• double patenting
• patent examination