What is the purpose of grouping unpatentable species in a restriction requirement?

The purpose of grouping unpatentable species in a restriction requirement is to streamline the examination process and focus on potentially allowable subject matter. The MPEP 808.01(a) provides guidance on this practice: “In making a requirement for restriction in an application claiming plural species, the examiner should group together species considered clearly unpatentable over each other.”…

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