What is the purpose of patent family information in patent examination?

The purpose of patent family information in patent examination is to provide examiners with a comprehensive view of related patent documents across different jurisdictions. According to MPEP 901.07:

“Patent family information provides a list of all patents and patent publications that are related to a particular patent document.”

This information helps examiners:

  • Identify relevant prior art more efficiently
  • Understand the global patent landscape for a particular invention
  • Assess the novelty and non-obviousness of claimed inventions in a broader context

To learn more:

Tags: global patent landscape, patent examination, patent family, prior art search