What is unity of invention in the context of international patent applications?

Unity of invention is a requirement in international patent applications that ensures all claims in an application are related to a single inventive concept. According to MPEP 1875, “Unity of invention is defined by 37 CFR 1.475 which describes the circumstances in which the requirement of unity of invention is considered fulfilled.” This requirement is…

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How is unity of invention determined in PCT applications?

Unity of invention in PCT applications is determined based on the presence of special technical features. According to MPEP 1850, the determination is made as follows: Identify the special technical features of each claimed invention Compare the special technical features of the inventions Determine whether there is a technical relationship between the inventions involving these…

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How does unity of invention apply to nucleotide sequences?

Unity of invention for nucleotide sequences in PCT applications is addressed specifically in MPEP 1850. The key points are: Nucleotide sequences encoding the same protein are considered to satisfy the unity of invention standard and will continue to be examined together. This is an exception to the general rule that requires “one or more of…

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What are special technical features in unity of invention?

Special technical features are a crucial concept in determining unity of invention. According to MPEP 1893.03(d): “The expression special technical features is defined as meaning those technical features that define the contribution which each claimed invention, considered as a whole, makes over the prior art.” These features are used to establish a technical relationship among…

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What is the “special technical feature” in unity of invention?

What is the “special technical feature” in unity of invention? The “special technical feature” is a key concept in assessing unity of invention. According to the MPEP 1893.03(d): “The expression ‘special technical features’ means those technical features that define a contribution which each of the claimed inventions, considered as a whole, makes over the prior…

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What is the “same or corresponding technical feature” in unity of invention?

What is the “same or corresponding technical feature” in unity of invention? The “same or corresponding technical feature” in unity of invention refers to the technical relationship among the claimed inventions that defines a contribution over the prior art. According to MPEP 1850: “The expression ‘special technical features’ is defined in PCT Rule 13.2 as…

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