How should foreign language documents be handled in an Information Disclosure Statement?

For foreign language documents cited in an Information Disclosure Statement:

• A concise explanation of relevance must be provided for non-English documents
• If a complete English translation is submitted, no concise explanation is required
• An English language abstract may satisfy the concise explanation requirement
• A copy of a search report from a foreign patent office citing the document can serve as the concise explanation

MPEP 609.04(a)(III) states: “Each information disclosure statement must further include a concise explanation of the relevance, as it is presently understood by the individual designated in 37 CFR 1.56(c) most knowledgeable about the content of the information listed that is not in the English language. The concise explanation may be either separate from the specification or part of the specification.”

To learn more:

• IDS
• Information Disclosure Statement
• Foreign Language Documents
• Patent Application