How does long-felt need impact patent examinations?

Long-felt need can be a powerful factor in patent examinations, particularly when addressing obviousness rejections. MPEP 716.04 explains:

Establishing long-felt need requires objective evidence that an art recognized problem existed in the art for a long period of time without solution.

To effectively demonstrate long-felt need:

• Show the need was persistent and recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art
• Prove the need was not solved by another before the applicant’s invention
• Demonstrate that the invention actually satisfies the long-felt need

Applicants should provide historical evidence, industry publications, or expert testimony to support claims of long-felt need. This evidence can help overcome obviousness rejections by showing that the invention was not obvious to those skilled in the art.

To learn more:

• long-felt need
• patent examinations
• obviousness
• evidence