MPEP § 704.14(d) — Relationship to Information Disclosure Statements (Annotated Rules)

§704.14(d) Relationship to Information Disclosure Statements

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 704.14(d), 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.

Relationship to Information Disclosure Statements

This section addresses Relationship to Information Disclosure Statements. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.105 and 37 CFR 1.97. Contains: 2 requirements, 1 prohibition, 1 guidance statement, and 2 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)

4 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-704-14-d-b9b202924cc1644e081ae710]
Initial Reply Does Not Need Fee/Certification
Note:
An initial reply responsive to information requirements and submitted within the time period does not need to meet fee and certification requirements.

The initial reply, if responsive to the requirement for information under 37 CFR 1.105 and submitted within the original time period for reply including any extensions of time, does not have to satisfy the fee and/or certification requirements of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. Applicant should list the references on a copy of Form PTO/SB/08 to have the citations entered in the record. Any replies made subsequent to the initial reply must meet the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 as appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.105Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)Fee RequirementsPeriod for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-704-14-d-4369907515232fb845f2fddf]
References Must Be Listed on Form PTO/SB/08
Note:
Applicant must list the references on a copy of Form PTO/SB/08 to have them entered in the record.

The initial reply, if responsive to the requirement for information under 37 CFR 1.105 and submitted within the original time period for reply including any extensions of time, does not have to satisfy the fee and/or certification requirements of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. Applicant should list the references on a copy of Form PTO/SB/08 to have the citations entered in the record. Any replies made subsequent to the initial reply must meet the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 as appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.105Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)Fee RequirementsPeriod for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-704-14-d-f34a1af2470706f00a3bda5c]
Subsequent Replies Must Meet Fee and Certification Requirements
Note:
Any replies made after the initial response must comply with the fee and certification requirements as specified in 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

The initial reply, if responsive to the requirement for information under 37 CFR 1.105 and submitted within the original time period for reply including any extensions of time, does not have to satisfy the fee and/or certification requirements of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. Applicant should list the references on a copy of Form PTO/SB/08 to have the citations entered in the record. Any replies made subsequent to the initial reply must meet the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 as appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.105Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)Fee RequirementsPeriod for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-704-14-d-cebb1be259839987acb011b7]
Art Beyond Requirement for Information Is Considered Under Art Rules
Note:
Any submission of art outside the scope of a requirement for information must comply with specific provisions and meet certain conditions to be considered.

Any submission of art beyond the scope of a requirement for information under 37 CFR 1.105 is a submission of art under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 and MPEP § 609, and must meet the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 for the art to be considered.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.105Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)Search and Requirements for Information
Topic

Amendments Adding New Matter

2 rules
StatutoryProhibitedAlways
[mpep-704-14-d-99aa136abd68529fc795078d]
Next Action Cannot Rely on New Art Unless Amended
Note:
The examiner may not consider new art in the next Office action unless it is necessitated by amendment submitted under 37 CFR 1.105.

Where information is submitted in a reply to a requirement under 37 CFR 1.105, the examiner may NOT make the next Office action relying on that art final unless all instances of the application of such art are necessitated by amendment. This section explicitly distinguishes the practice following a reply under 37 CFR 1.105 from the practice in MPEP § 609.04(b) and MPEP § 706.07(a) following a submission of an Information Disclosure Statement under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.105Amendments Adding New MatterAmendments to ApplicationExamination Procedures
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-704-14-d-9982118074da2b6f0ed7c5e5]
Distinguishing Practice for Reply Under 37 CFR 1.105 from MPEP §609.04(b) and §706.07(a)
Note:
This rule clarifies the distinct procedures for responding to a requirement under 37 CFR 1.105 compared to those following an Information Disclosure Statement submission.

Where information is submitted in a reply to a requirement under 37 CFR 1.105, the examiner may NOT make the next Office action relying on that art final unless all instances of the application of such art are necessitated by amendment. This section explicitly distinguishes the practice following a reply under 37 CFR 1.105 from the practice in MPEP § 609.04(b) and MPEP § 706.07(a) following a submission of an Information Disclosure Statement under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.105Amendments Adding New MatterAmendments to ApplicationExamination Procedures

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Amendments Adding New Matter
Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)
37 CFR § 1.105
Amendments Adding New Matter
Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)
37 CFR § 1.97
Requirement for Information (37 CFR 1.105)MPEP § 609
Amendments Adding New MatterMPEP § 609.04(b)
Amendments Adding New MatterMPEP § 706.07(a)

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