How are foreign patent citation errors handled by the USPTO?
The USPTO has specific procedures for handling errors in foreign patent citations. According to MPEP 707.05(g):
If a FOREIGN patent is incorrectly cited: for example, the wrong country is indicated or the country omitted from the citation, the General Reference Branch of the Scientific and Technical Library may be helpful. The date and number of the patent are often sufficient to determine the correct country which granted the patent.
Key points in handling foreign patent citation errors:
- The General Reference Branch of the Scientific and Technical Library can assist in correcting these errors.
- Often, the patent date and number are sufficient to identify the correct country of origin.
- Examiners may use this resource to ensure accurate foreign patent citations.
- Corrections are made to provide applicants with the correct foreign patent information.
This process ensures that applicants have accurate information about relevant foreign patents during the examination process.
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