How do patent examiners handle non-English language abstracts?
Patent examiners have specific guidelines for handling non-English language abstracts. The MPEP 901.05(d) states:
“Since the abstract is merely a summary of the disclosure of the application, the examiner should not evaluate the materiality of any difference between the scope of an English language abstract and the scope of the application’s claims.”
This means that examiners are instructed not to make judgments about the patentability or scope of claims based solely on differences between the English abstract and the non-English full text. Instead, they should focus on obtaining a full translation of the relevant parts of the document to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the invention.
To learn more: