MPEP § 724.03 — Types of Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02 (Annotated Rules)

§724.03 Types of Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 724.03, 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.

Types of Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02

This section addresses Types of Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Protective Order Materials Submitted Under MPEP § 724.02. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(1), 37 CFR 1.56, and 37 CFR 1.555. Contains: 2 requirements, 1 guidance statement, 2 permissions, and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Materiality Standard

2 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-724-03-418886ce85fe07de84cc4550]
Favorable Information Not Required for Patentability
Note:
The rule states that information favorable to patentability, such as evidence of commercial success, should not be disclosed in accordance with MPEP § 724.02.

The types of materials or information contemplated for submission under MPEP § 724.02 include information “material to patentability” but does not include information favorable to patentability. Thus, any trade secret, proprietary, and/or protective order materials which are required to be submitted on behalf of a patent applicant under 37 CFR 1.56 or patent owner under 37 CFR 1.555 can be submitted in accordance with MPEP § 724.02. Neither 37 CFR 1.56 nor 1.555 require the disclosure of information favorable to patentability, e.g., evidence of commercial success of the invention (see 42 FR 5590). Such information should not be submitted in accordance with MPEP § 724.02. If any trade secret, proprietary, and/or protective order materials are submitted in amendments, arguments in favor of patentability, or affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130, 1.131 or 1.132, they will be made of record in the file and will not be given any special status.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.56Materiality StandardDuty of DisclosureMaterial Information Definition
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-724-03-77d6e5c3689b7f48a79eb0e4]
Trade Secrets and Proprietary Materials Must Not Be Given Special Status
Note:
If trade secrets, proprietary materials, or protective order information are submitted in amendments, arguments for patentability, or affidavits under specific rules, they will be recorded but not given special treatment.

The types of materials or information contemplated for submission under MPEP § 724.02 include information “material to patentability” but does not include information favorable to patentability. Thus, any trade secret, proprietary, and/or protective order materials which are required to be submitted on behalf of a patent applicant under 37 CFR 1.56 or patent owner under 37 CFR 1.555 can be submitted in accordance with MPEP § 724.02. Neither 37 CFR 1.56 nor 1.555 require the disclosure of information favorable to patentability, e.g., evidence of commercial success of the invention (see 42 FR 5590). Such information should not be submitted in accordance with MPEP § 724.02. If any trade secret, proprietary, and/or protective order materials are submitted in amendments, arguments in favor of patentability, or affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130, 1.131 or 1.132, they will be made of record in the file and will not be given any special status.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.56Materiality StandardReexamination OrderMaterial Information Definition
Topic

Prior Art Submissions in Protests

2 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-724-03-0a102228707daa61e0f15e7e]
Protestor Can Submit Before Patent Publish
Note:
A protestor under 37 CFR 1.291(a) can submit a protest before the patent application is published, provided they have access to the application.

Insofar as protestors under 37 CFR 1.291(a) are concerned, submissions can be made in accordance with MPEP § 724.02 before the patent application is published, if protestor or petitioner has access to the application involved. After the patent application has been published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(1), no protest may be filed without the express consent of the applicant. Any submission filed by a protestor must follow the requirements for service. The Office cannot ensure that the party or parties served will maintain the information secret. If the party or parties served find it necessary or desirable to comment on material submitted under MPEP § 724 before it is, or without its being, found “material to patentability,” such comments should either (A) not disclose the details of the material or (B) be submitted in a separate paper under MPEP § 724.02.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.291(a)Prior Art Submissions in ProtestsProtest Timing RequirementsProtest Filing Requirements
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-724-03-39d9f448495fc75f0a46b054]
No Protest Without Applicant’s Consent After Publication
Note:
Patent protestors may not file a protest after the application is published without the applicant's explicit permission.

Insofar as protestors under 37 CFR 1.291(a) are concerned, submissions can be made in accordance with MPEP § 724.02 before the patent application is published, if protestor or petitioner has access to the application involved. After the patent application has been published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(1), no protest may be filed without the express consent of the applicant. Any submission filed by a protestor must follow the requirements for service. The Office cannot ensure that the party or parties served will maintain the information secret. If the party or parties served find it necessary or desirable to comment on material submitted under MPEP § 724 before it is, or without its being, found “material to patentability,” such comments should either (A) not disclose the details of the material or (B) be submitted in a separate paper under MPEP § 724.02.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.291(a)Prior Art Submissions in ProtestsProtest with Applicant ConsentService of Protest
Topic

Material Information Definition

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-724-03-78d40c34854484546f549fd8]
Trade Secrets and Proprietary Materials Must Be Submitted Under MPEP §724.02
Note:
Patent applicants must submit trade secrets, proprietary materials, and protective order materials required under 37 CFR 1.56 or 1.555, but not information favorable to patentability.

The types of materials or information contemplated for submission under MPEP § 724.02 include information “material to patentability” but does not include information favorable to patentability. Thus, any trade secret, proprietary, and/or protective order materials which are required to be submitted on behalf of a patent applicant under 37 CFR 1.56 or patent owner under 37 CFR 1.555 can be submitted in accordance with MPEP § 724.02. Neither 37 CFR 1.56 nor 1.555 require the disclosure of information favorable to patentability, e.g., evidence of commercial success of the invention (see 42 FR 5590). Such information should not be submitted in accordance with MPEP § 724.02. If any trade secret, proprietary, and/or protective order materials are submitted in amendments, arguments in favor of patentability, or affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130, 1.131 or 1.132, they will be made of record in the file and will not be given any special status.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.56Material Information DefinitionMateriality StandardReexamination Order
Topic

Service of Protest

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-724-03-fcae8c1b8f2b67dfd9324391]
Protestor Submissions Must Follow Service Rules
Note:
Any submission by a protestor must adhere to the service requirements for filing protests after publication.

Insofar as protestors under 37 CFR 1.291(a) are concerned, submissions can be made in accordance with MPEP § 724.02 before the patent application is published, if protestor or petitioner has access to the application involved. After the patent application has been published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(1), no protest may be filed without the express consent of the applicant. Any submission filed by a protestor must follow the requirements for service. The Office cannot ensure that the party or parties served will maintain the information secret. If the party or parties served find it necessary or desirable to comment on material submitted under MPEP § 724 before it is, or without its being, found “material to patentability,” such comments should either (A) not disclose the details of the material or (B) be submitted in a separate paper under MPEP § 724.02.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.291(a)Service of ProtestPrior Art Submissions in ProtestsProtest with Applicant Consent
Topic

Protest Timing Requirements

1 rules
StatutoryProhibitedAlways
[mpep-724-03-829ebb5a6ad6f764963bff90]
Comments on Submitted Material Must Be Confidential
Note:
Parties served must not disclose details of submitted material in comments unless submitted separately.

Insofar as protestors under 37 CFR 1.291(a) are concerned, submissions can be made in accordance with MPEP § 724.02 before the patent application is published, if protestor or petitioner has access to the application involved. After the patent application has been published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(1), no protest may be filed without the express consent of the applicant. Any submission filed by a protestor must follow the requirements for service. The Office cannot ensure that the party or parties served will maintain the information secret. If the party or parties served find it necessary or desirable to comment on material submitted under MPEP § 724 before it is, or without its being, found “material to patentability,” such comments should either (A) not disclose the details of the material or (B) be submitted in a separate paper under MPEP § 724.02.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.291(a)Protest Timing RequirementsProtest Content and EvidencePTAB Contested Case Procedures

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Prior Art Submissions in Protests
Protest Timing Requirements
Service of Protest
35 U.S.C. § 122(b)(1)
Material Information Definition
Materiality Standard
37 CFR § 1.130
Prior Art Submissions in Protests
Protest Timing Requirements
Service of Protest
37 CFR § 1.291(a)
Material Information Definition
Materiality Standard
37 CFR § 1.555
Material Information Definition
Materiality Standard
37 CFR § 1.56
Prior Art Submissions in Protests
Protest Timing Requirements
Service of Protest
MPEP § 724
Material Information Definition
Materiality Standard
Prior Art Submissions in Protests
Protest Timing Requirements
Service of Protest
MPEP § 724.02

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