How can common ownership or a Joint Research Agreement help overcome a 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) rejection?
Common ownership or evidence of a Joint Research Agreement can be used to overcome a 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) rejection by establishing entitlement to the 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) exception. This exception removes certain disclosures from being considered prior art.
MPEP 2152.06 states: “Establishing common ownership or establishing evidence of a Joint Research Agreement to overcome a 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) rejection or a 35 U.S.C. 103 rejection based on prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) by establishing entitlement to the 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) exception.“
This method can be particularly useful when dealing with prior art that might otherwise be cited against your application, but was owned by the same entity or developed under a Joint Research Agreement at the relevant time.
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