How does the USPTO handle the receipt of international preliminary examination reports?
According to MPEP 1881, the USPTO handles the receipt of international preliminary examination reports as follows:
“The international preliminary examination report received by the USPTO will also be included in the national stage file.“
This means that when an application enters the national stage at the USPTO, the international preliminary examination report becomes part of the official record. Additionally, the MPEP states that “The international preliminary report on patentability is communicated to the elected Offices by the International Bureau.” This ensures that all elected Offices, including the USPTO, receive the report directly from WIPO’s International Bureau.
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