What information does the USPTO provide in response to maintenance fee status requests?
When responding to maintenance fee status requests, the USPTO provides comprehensive information about the patent’s maintenance fee history. According to MPEP 2570: “The Office will provide the status including the amount of any maintenance fee paid, the date paid, and any expiration date.” This information typically includes: The current status of the patent (active or…
Read MoreWhat types of information can be considered in a supplemental examination?
Supplemental examination is not limited to patents and printed publications. The MPEP states: “The information presented in a request for supplemental examination is not limited to patents and printed publications, and may include, for example, issues of patentability under 35 U.S.C. 101 and 112.” This means that patent owners can request consideration of a wide…
Read MoreWhat types of information can be submitted for supplemental examination?
In supplemental examination, patent owners can submit a wide range of information for consideration. The MPEP states: “The ‘information’ may include any information that the patent owner believes to be relevant to the patent. For example, the information may include not only a patent or a journal article, but also a sales invoice, or a…
Read MoreCan a patent owner submit copies of webpages for supplemental examination?
Yes, patent owners can submit copies of webpages for supplemental examination. The MPEP 2809 explicitly mentions “copies of websites” as an acceptable item of information for supplemental examination. The MPEP states: “An item of information includes any information which the patent owner believes to be relevant to the patent, including … copies of websites.” When…
Read MoreWhat information must be included in a protest under 37 CFR 1.291?
A protest under 37 CFR 1.291 must include specific information to be considered by the USPTO. According to MPEP 1901, the protest must include: A listing of the patents, publications, or other information relied upon; A concise explanation of the relevance of each listed item; A copy of each listed patent, publication, or other item…
Read MoreWhat information is required when submitting a maintenance fee payment?
When submitting a maintenance fee payment, certain identifying information is required. According to MPEP 2515: The patent number The application number of the United States application for the patent Additionally, the following information should be provided: The fee year (3 1/2, 7 1/2, or 11 1/2 year fee) The amount of the maintenance fee and…
Read MoreHow does the distribution of inter partes reexamination certificates affect patent copies?
The distribution of inter partes reexamination certificates has a direct impact on patent copies prepared by the USPTO: All patent copies made after the certificate’s issuance will include the reexamination certificate. This ensures that anyone obtaining a copy of the patent receives the most up-to-date information about its legal status. It helps prevent confusion or…
Read MoreWhat information is included in the header of an inter partes reexamination certificate?
The header of an inter partes reexamination certificate contains essential information about the reexamination proceeding. According to MPEP 2688, the header includes: The patent number of the original patent The name of the patent owner at the time of issuance The reexamination control number The effective date of the certificate The reexamination request filing date…
Read MoreWhat information must be included in a protest?
According to 37 CFR 1.291(c), a protest must include specific information: A listing of the patents, publications, or other information relied upon A concise explanation of the relevance of each item listed A copy of each listed patent, publication, or other item of information An English language translation of any non-English language item listed The…
Read MoreWhat information is included in the header of an ex parte reexamination certificate?
The header of an ex parte reexamination certificate includes several key pieces of information: The patent number of the original patent The reexamination request number The effective date of the certificate The patent owner’s name The text “Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate” The number of the certificate (e.g., “1st”) As stated in MPEP 2290: “The certificate…
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