What are analogous arts in patent examination?
Analogous arts in patent examination refer to fields of invention that are related to the claimed invention, even if they are not directly within the same classification. The Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) states:
Not only must the art be searched within which the invention claimed is classifiable, but also all analogous arts must be searched regardless of where the claimed invention is classified.
(MPEP 904.01(c))
This means that patent examiners must consider inventions from related fields that serve similar functions, even if they are not in the same technical area.
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