What information is included in a protest acknowledgment for a published application?

When a protest is filed for a published patent application, the acknowledgment sent to the protestor contains specific information. As stated in MPEP 1901.05, the acknowledgment includes:

  • The date the protest was filed
  • Confirmation that the protest has been referred to the examiner
  • Information that a copy will be retained in the application file

The exact wording of the acknowledgment is:

“The protest you filed on [date] has been referred to the examiner in charge of the application. A copy will be retained in the application file.”

It’s important to note that this acknowledgment does not indicate whether the protest was entered or considered, as that decision is made by the examiner.

To learn more:

Topics: MPEP 1900 - Protest, MPEP 1901.05 - Acknowledgment Of Protest, Patent Law, Patent Procedure
Tags: Acknowledgment Content, examiner referral, Protest Acknowledgment, Published Application