How is the material to patentability standard applied in reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 257?
In reexamination ordered under 35 U.S.C. 257, the material to patentability standard is defined by 37 CFR 1.56, which is the same standard used in patent application examination. This differs from standard ex parte reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302, which uses the standard in 37 CFR 1.555(b).
As stated in MPEP 2818.01: “The material to patentability standard (37 CFR 1.56(b)) applicable to patent applications is also applicable to an ex parte reexamination proceeding under 35 U.S.C. 257 resulting from a supplemental examination proceeding because, like patent application examination, an ex parte reexamination proceeding ordered pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 257 is not limited to patents and printed publications.“
This broader standard allows for consideration of a wider range of information in the reexamination process.
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