What should be included in a patent owner’s statement during ex parte reexamination?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
A patent owner’s statement during ex parte reexamination should address the patentability of the claims in light of the prior art cited in the request. According to MPEP 2252, the statement may include:
- An explanation of why the patent claims are patentable
- Any proposed amendments to the claims
- New claims proposed to be added
The MPEP further states:
“Any statement filed by the patent owner must clearly point out why the subject matter as claimed is not anticipated or rendered obvious by the prior art patents or printed publications, either alone or in any reasonable combinations.”
It’s crucial for the patent owner to provide a comprehensive and well-reasoned response to the reexamination request to defend the patent’s validity.