Why doesn’t the USPTO investigate duty of disclosure issues during patent examination?

The USPTO does not investigate duty of disclosure issues during patent examination for several reasons: Lack of appropriate tools: The USPTO lacks the necessary tools to effectively deal with these complex issues. Sensitive nature: Duty of disclosure and inequitable conduct are sensitive matters with potential significant impact on a patent. Judicial doctrine: Inequitable conduct is…

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How does the USPTO view claims that refer to figures or tables?

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) generally discourages claims that refer to figures or tables. According to MPEP 2173.05(s): “Where possible, claims are to be complete in themselves. Incorporation by reference to a specific figure or table ‘is permitted only in exceptional circumstances where there is no practical way to define the invention…

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What is the USPTO’s stance on rejecting patent claims for “aggregation”?

According to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) 2173.05(k), patent claims should not be rejected on the grounds of “aggregation.” The MPEP states: “A claim should not be rejected on the ground of ‘aggregation.’” This guidance is based on legal precedents, including In re Gustafson and In re Collier, which established that rejections for…

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How does the USPTO handle a request for reexamination of a patent that has already been reissued?

The USPTO has a specific policy for handling reexamination requests for patents that have already been reissued. The MPEP states: “Where a request for reexamination is filed on a patent after a reissue patent for that patent has already issued, reexamination will be denied, because the patent on which the request for reexamination is based…

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What constitutes “unintentional delay” in paying maintenance fees?

“Unintentional delay” in paying maintenance fees is a crucial concept for reinstating expired patents. According to MPEP 2590: “A person seeking reinstatement of an expired patent should not make a statement that the delay in payment of the maintenance fee was unintentional unless the entire delay was unintentional, including the period from discovery that the…

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Can supplemental restriction requirements be issued for applications containing nucleotide sequences?

Generally, supplemental restriction requirements are not issued for applications that have already received an action on their merits, unless there are extenuating circumstances. MPEP 2434 states: “Note, however, that supplemental restriction requirements will not be advanced in applications that have already received an action on their merits in the absence of extenuating circumstances.” This guideline…

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What happens to the reexamination fee if a supplemental examination request is not granted a filing date?

If a supplemental examination request is not granted a filing date due to non-compliance with the requirements, the USPTO has a specific policy regarding the reexamination fee. According to MPEP 2812.01: “If the patent owner does not timely comply with the notice, the request for supplemental examination will not be granted a filing date and…

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Why does the USPTO prohibit third-party submissions on patent term adjustment?

The USPTO prohibits third-party submissions on patent term adjustment to maintain the integrity and efficiency of the patent process. While MPEP 2736 doesn’t explicitly state the reasons, we can infer several potential justifications: To prevent unnecessary interference in the patent process To maintain the direct relationship between the USPTO and the patent applicant/owner To avoid…

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