Can a national patent office publish information about an international application before international publication?
A national patent office may inform third parties that it has been designated in an international application and publish that fact. However, the publication can only contain limited bibliographic data, as specified in PCT Article 30(2)(b): “Such information or publication may, however, contain only the following data: identification of the receiving Office, name of the…
Read MoreWhat is the confidential nature of international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)?
International patent applications filed under the PCT are generally kept confidential and not made publicly available before international publication, which occurs soon after the expiration of 18 months from the priority date, according to PCT Article 21(2)(a). The International Bureau and International Searching Authorities are not allowed to give access to the application to any…
Read MoreWhen can third parties access an international patent application?
Third parties cannot access an international patent application until the earliest of: The international publication date Date of receipt of the communication of the application under PCT Article 20 Date of receipt of a copy of the application under PCT Article 22 This is specified in PCT Article 30(2)(a): “No national Office shall allow access…
Read MoreAre reserved MPEP sections common?
Reserved sections are relatively common in the MPEP, especially for section numbers that are being held for future use or that previously contained content that was moved. A quick scan of the MPEP Chapter 200 shows several reserved sections, such as: Section 203.07 [Reserved] Sections 204-209 [Reserved] Section 212 [Reserved]
Read MoreWhy would an MPEP section be reserved?
An MPEP section may be marked as [Reserved] for several reasons: The topic is not currently relevant but a section is being held for potential future use The section was previously used but the content was moved elsewhere in the MPEP The section is a placeholder to maintain a desired numbering scheme
Read MoreWhat does it mean when an MPEP section is marked as [Reserved]?
When an MPEP section is marked as [Reserved], it indicates that the section number exists but there is currently no content provided for that section. The MPEP states in section 212: 212 [Reserved] [R-]
Read MoreWhat does ‘[Reserved]’ mean in MPEP 212?
The ‘[Reserved]’ designation in MPEP 212 indicates that this section is currently not in use but is being held for potential future content. It does not contain any specific information or guidance at this time.
Read MoreWhat is MPEP 319?
MPEP 319 is currently a reserved section in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). The content of this section is marked as ‘[Reserved]’, which means that there is no specific information or guidance provided in this particular section at this time.
Read MoreWhat should I do if I need information related to a reserved MPEP section?
If you need information related to a topic that corresponds to a reserved MPEP section, such as MPEP 404, follow these steps: Check other relevant sections of the MPEP that may cover related topics Consult the USPTO’s official website for guidance documents and notices Review recent patent laws and regulations that may address the topic…
Read MoreCan patent practitioners rely on information from reserved MPEP sections?
Patent practitioners should not rely on information from reserved MPEP sections, as these sections do not contain any official guidance or information. A reserved section, such as MPEP 404, is essentially a placeholder and does not provide any substantive content. Practitioners should instead: Refer to active, non-reserved sections of the MPEP Consult the most recent…
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