How should arguments be presented in a patent appeal brief?
According to MPEP 1205.02, arguments in a patent appeal brief should be presented as follows:
- Each ground of rejection must be argued under a separate heading that clearly identifies the ground of rejection being contested.
- For each ground of rejection applying to two or more claims, the claims may be argued separately, as a group, or as a subgroup.
- When multiple claims are argued as a group or subgroup, the Board may select a single claim from the group and decide the appeal based on that claim alone.
- Under each heading identifying the ground of rejection, any claims argued separately or as a subgroup shall be placed under a separate subheading that identifies the claim(s) by number.
The MPEP states: “The arguments shall explain why the examiner erred as to each ground of rejection contested by appellant.” It’s important to note that “A statement which merely points out what a claim recites will not be considered an argument for patentability of the claim.“
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