What is the purpose of supplemental examination?

Supplemental examination is a process in patent law that allows patent owners to request the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to consider, reconsider, or correct information believed to be relevant to their patent. This process is primarily used to address potential issues of inequitable conduct or other patentability concerns that may have arisen after the patent was granted.

While the provided MPEP section doesn’t directly address this question, it’s important to understand the context of supplemental examination before delving into its processing details.

To learn more:

• Supplemental Examination
• Patent Law
• USPTO
• Patent Procedure