What information about patent applications is publicly available?
Certain information about patent applications is publicly available, even if the full application is not. According to 37 CFR 1.14(a)(1)(ii) and (iii), for published applications, the following information may be communicated without a petition for access: Whether the application is pending, abandoned, or patented Whether the application has been published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) The…
Read MoreHow does a CPA affect confidentiality and public access to application information?
Filing a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) has implications for the confidentiality of the application. As stated in the MPEP: A CPA is construed to include a waiver of confidentiality by the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 122 to the extent that any member of the public who is entitled under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.14…
Read MoreWhat information can be provided about pending or abandoned applications?
For pending or abandoned applications that have not been published, the Office may only confirm that an application has been filed, provide the application number and filing date, the inventorship information, the classification, and the group art unit assigned to the application. This limited information is available to the public to help avoid infringement of…
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