What is a traverse in patent law?
In patent law, a traverse is a formal objection or disagreement with a requirement or decision made by the patent examiner. Specifically, in the context of restriction requirements, a traverse is a response where the applicant distinctly and specifically points out supposed errors in the restriction requirement. This is crucial because, as stated in MPEP 818.01(c), “To preserve the right to petition from the requirement for restriction, including an election of species requirement, all errors to be relied upon in the petition must be distinctly and specifically pointed out in a timely filed traverse by the applicant.”
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