This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 35 U.S.C. § 154, including 423 rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Summary

This section outlines the contents and term of patents granted under U.S. law, with a focus on provisional patents, including jurisdiction and limitations of actions by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

What this section covers

• Defines the contents and term of patents granted under U.S. law, focusing on provisional patents.
• Outlines the jurisdiction and limitations of actions by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office regarding granted patents.

Key obligations

• The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can only take actions as provided in specific sections of 35 USC, such as 135, 154, 156, 251-256.
• Practitioners must be aware of the limitations on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's actions concerning granted patents.
• Compliance with these provisions is required to ensure proper handling of provisional patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Practice notes

• Review the specific sections of 35 USC mentioned in this section for detailed guidance on permissible actions by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
• Do not assume that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can take any action not explicitly permitted by these sections.