MPEP § 2801 — Introduction (Annotated Rules)

§2801 Introduction

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2801, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Introduction

This section addresses Introduction. Contains: 4 permissions.

Key Rules

Topic

Anticipation/Novelty

4 rules
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2801-90daab3b981fecc1d96ba1f7]
Information Not Limited to Patents in Supplemental Exam
Note:
Patent owners can submit a wide range of information, including sales invoices and audio recordings, for consideration during supplemental examination proceedings.

Unlike ex parte reexamination practice, the information that the patent owner may request to be considered, reconsidered, or corrected in a supplemental examination proceeding is not limited to patents and printed publications. The "information" may include any information that the patent owner believes to be relevant to the patent. For example, the information may include not only a patent or a journal article, but also a sales invoice, or a transcript of an audio or video recording. In addition, the information submitted as part of a request for supplemental examination may involve any ground of patentability, such as, for example, patent eligible subject matter, anticipation, public use or sale, obviousness, written description, enablement, indefiniteness, and double-patenting.

Jump to MPEP SourceAnticipation/NoveltyObviousnessPatent Eligibility
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2801-0f43723252022ad03c62296d]
Information Must Be Relevant to Patent
Note:
The patent owner can submit any information they believe is relevant to the patent, including sales invoices and transcripts, for reconsideration in a supplemental examination proceeding.

Unlike ex parte reexamination practice, the information that the patent owner may request to be considered, reconsidered, or corrected in a supplemental examination proceeding is not limited to patents and printed publications. The "information" may include any information that the patent owner believes to be relevant to the patent. For example, the information may include not only a patent or a journal article, but also a sales invoice, or a transcript of an audio or video recording. In addition, the information submitted as part of a request for supplemental examination may involve any ground of patentability, such as, for example, patent eligible subject matter, anticipation, public use or sale, obviousness, written description, enablement, indefiniteness, and double-patenting.

Jump to MPEP SourceAnticipation/NoveltyObviousnessPatent Eligibility
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2801-5040edbf321791070b05ecf3]
Information Including Sales Invoices and Transcripts Allowed for Supplemental Examination
Note:
Patent owners can submit various types of information, such as sales invoices and transcripts, during a supplemental examination to support their patent claims.

Unlike ex parte reexamination practice, the information that the patent owner may request to be considered, reconsidered, or corrected in a supplemental examination proceeding is not limited to patents and printed publications. The "information" may include any information that the patent owner believes to be relevant to the patent. For example, the information may include not only a patent or a journal article, but also a sales invoice, or a transcript of an audio or video recording. In addition, the information submitted as part of a request for supplemental examination may involve any ground of patentability, such as, for example, patent eligible subject matter, anticipation, public use or sale, obviousness, written description, enablement, indefiniteness, and double-patenting.

Jump to MPEP SourceAnticipation/NoveltyObviousnessPatent Eligibility
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2801-30a10f723024b97192ae8d47]
Information for Supplemental Examination Not Limited to Patents and Publications
Note:
The information submitted in a request for supplemental examination can include any relevant material, not just patents or publications, covering grounds of patentability such as anticipation, obviousness, and written description.

Unlike ex parte reexamination practice, the information that the patent owner may request to be considered, reconsidered, or corrected in a supplemental examination proceeding is not limited to patents and printed publications. The "information" may include any information that the patent owner believes to be relevant to the patent. For example, the information may include not only a patent or a journal article, but also a sales invoice, or a transcript of an audio or video recording. In addition, the information submitted as part of a request for supplemental examination may involve any ground of patentability, such as, for example, patent eligible subject matter, anticipation, public use or sale, obviousness, written description, enablement, indefiniteness, and double-patenting.

Jump to MPEP SourceAnticipation/NoveltyObviousnessPatent Eligibility

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31