MPEP § 2411 — Examination Procedures (Annotated Rules)
§2411 Examination Procedures
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2411, 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.
Examination Procedures
This section addresses Examination Procedures. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.809. Contains: 1 requirement.
Key Rules
Reference to Deposit in Specification
(d) For each deposit made pursuant to these regulations, the specification shall contain:
- (1) The accession number for the deposit;
- (2) The date of the deposit;
- (3) A description of the deposited biological material sufficient to specifically identify it and to permit examination; and
- (4) The name and address of the depository.
37 CFR 1.809 sets forth procedures that will be used by the examiner to address a deposit issue. The burden is initially on the Office to establish that access to a biological material is necessary for the satisfaction of the statutory requirements for patentability under 35 U.S.C. 112. Once the Office has met this burden, the burden shifts to the applicant or patent owner to demonstrate that access to such biological material either is not necessary, or is already available, or that a deposit of such material will be made in accordance with these regulations.
Reissue and Reexamination
(a) The examiner shall determine pursuant to § 1.104 in each application for patent, application for reissue patent or reexamination proceeding if a deposit is needed, and if needed, if a deposit actually made is acceptable for patent purposes. If a deposit is needed and has not been made or replaced or supplemented in accordance with these regulations, the examiner, where appropriate, shall reject the affected claims under the appropriate provision of 35 U.S.C. 112, explaining why a deposit is needed and/or why a deposit actually made cannot be accepted.
Rejections Not Based on Prior Art
(a) The examiner shall determine pursuant to § 1.104 in each application for patent, application for reissue patent or reexamination proceeding if a deposit is needed, and if needed, if a deposit actually made is acceptable for patent purposes. If a deposit is needed and has not been made or replaced or supplemented in accordance with these regulations, the examiner, where appropriate, shall reject the affected claims under the appropriate provision of 35 U.S.C. 112, explaining why a deposit is needed and/or why a deposit actually made cannot be accepted.
Issue Fees
(e) Any amendment required by paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2) or (d)(4) of this section must be filed before or with the payment of the issue fee (see § 1.312).
Access to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106)
37 CFR 1.809 sets forth procedures that will be used by the examiner to address a deposit issue. The burden is initially on the Office to establish that access to a biological material is necessary for the satisfaction of the statutory requirements for patentability under 35 U.S.C. 112. Once the Office has met this burden, the burden shifts to the applicant or patent owner to demonstrate that access to such biological material either is not necessary, or is already available, or that a deposit of such material will be made in accordance with these regulations.
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| Access to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106) Reference to Deposit in Specification Reissue and Reexamination Rejections Not Based on Prior Art | 35 U.S.C. § 112 |
| Reissue and Reexamination Rejections Not Based on Prior Art | 37 CFR § 1.104 |
| – | 37 CFR § 1.136 |
| – | 37 CFR § 1.136(c) |
| Issue Fees | 37 CFR § 1.312 |
| – | 37 CFR § 1.805 |
| Access to Patent Application Files (MPEP 101-106) Reference to Deposit in Specification | 37 CFR § 1.809 |
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.
Official MPEP § 2411 — Examination Procedures
Source: USPTO2411 Examination Procedures [R-07.2015]
37 CFR 1.809 Examination procedures.
- (a) The examiner shall determine pursuant to § 1.104 in each application for patent, application for reissue patent or reexamination proceeding if a deposit is needed, and if needed, if a deposit actually made is acceptable for patent purposes. If a deposit is needed and has not been made or replaced or supplemented in accordance with these regulations, the examiner, where appropriate, shall reject the affected claims under the appropriate provision of 35 U.S.C. 112, explaining why a deposit is needed and/or why a deposit actually made cannot be accepted.
- (b) The applicant for patent or patent owner shall reply to a
rejection under paragraph (a) of this section by—
- (1) In the case of an applicant for patent, either making an acceptable original, replacement, or supplemental deposit, or assuring the Office in writing that an acceptable deposit will be made; or, in the case of a patent owner, requesting a certificate of correction of the patent which meets the terms of paragraphs (b) and (c) of § 1.805, or
- (2) Arguing why a deposit is not needed under the circumstances of the application or patent considered and/or why a deposit actually made should be accepted. Other replies to the examiner’s action shall be considered nonresponsive. The rejection will be repeated until either paragraph (b)(1) of this section is satisfied or the examiner is convinced that a deposit is not needed.
- (c) If an application for patent is otherwise in condition for allowance except for a needed deposit and the Office has received a written assurance that an acceptable deposit will be made, the Office may notify the applicant in a notice of allowability and set a three month period of time from the mailing date of the notice of allowability within which the deposit must be made in order to avoid abandonment. This time period is not extendable under § 1.136 (see § 1.136(c)).
- (d) For each deposit made pursuant to these regulations, the
specification shall contain:
- (1) The accession number for the deposit;
- (2) The date of the deposit;
- (3) A description of the deposited biological material sufficient to specifically identify it and to permit examination; and
- (4) The name and address of the depository.
- (e) Any amendment required by paragraphs (d)(1), (d)(2) or (d)(4) of this section must be filed before or with the payment of the issue fee (see § 1.312).
37 CFR 1.809 sets forth procedures that will be used by the examiner to address a deposit issue. The burden is initially on the Office to establish that access to a biological material is necessary for the satisfaction of the statutory requirements for patentability under 35 U.S.C. 112. Once the Office has met this burden, the burden shifts to the applicant or patent owner to demonstrate that access to such biological material either is not necessary, or is already available, or that a deposit of such material will be made in accordance with these regulations.