How should patent examiners treat different types of references in their citations?

According to MPEP 707.05(c), patent examiners should not differentiate between references used for rejection and those considered pertinent but not used as a basis for rejection. The manual states:

No distinction is to be made between references on which a claim is rejected and those formerly referred to as “pertinent.”

This guidance ensures that all relevant references are treated equally in the examination process, providing a comprehensive overview of the prior art landscape for the applicant and any subsequent reviewers.

To learn more:

• Patent References
• Citation Treatment
• Prior Art
• Patent Examination Procedure