How does the MPEP guide examiners on searching for synonyms and equivalent terms?
The MPEP provides guidance to examiners on searching for synonyms and equivalent terms to ensure a comprehensive prior art search. According to MPEP 904.03:
“The search should not be limited to the exact words as disclosed or claimed, or to the subject matter as disclosed, since the language used by the applicant and that occurring in the prior art are often different.”
Examiners are encouraged to:
- Use synonyms and equivalent terms in their search queries
- Consider alternative ways of expressing the same concept
- Utilize thesauri and other language resources to expand their search vocabulary
This approach helps ensure that relevant prior art is not missed due to differences in terminology or phrasing between the application and existing documents.
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