How should parties comment on material submitted under MPEP § 724?
When parties need to comment on material submitted under MPEP § 724, they should follow specific guidelines to maintain confidentiality. The MPEP provides the following advice:
If the party or parties served find it necessary or desirable to comment on material submitted under MPEP § 724 before it is, or without its being, found ‘material to patentability,’ such comments should either (A) not disclose the details of the material or (B) be submitted in a separate paper under MPEP § 724.02.
This guidance offers two options for commenting on confidential material:
- Comment without disclosing specific details of the confidential material
- Submit comments as a separate, confidential paper under MPEP § 724.02
By following these guidelines, parties can provide necessary feedback while maintaining the confidentiality of the original submission.
To learn more: