What are the drawing requirements for patent applications filed before December 18, 2013?
For patent applications filed before December 18, 2013, drawings were generally required to receive a filing date. As stated in the MPEP, For applications filed prior to December 18, 2013, 35 U.S.C. 111(a)(4) and 35 U.S.C. 111(b)(4) each provide, in part, that the ‘filing date… shall be the date on which… any required drawing are received in the Patent and Trademark Office.’
This means that if drawings were necessary for understanding the invention, they had to be included in the initial filing to secure a filing date.
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Topics:
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure