What does “patents are relevant as prior art for all they contain” mean?

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Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-30 10 Rules 5 Related FAQs This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice. This principle means that patents can be used as prior art references beyond just the specific inventions they describe. As stated in MPEP 2123 : “The use of patents as references is not limited to what the patentees describe as their own inventions or to the problems with which they are concerned. They are part of the literature of the art, relevant for all they contain.” This quote emphasizes that patent documents can be used to show the state of the art in a particular field, even if the specific details aren’t directly related to the patentee’s main invention. Related Rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 10 rules Collapse Rejection Over Prior Art’s Broad Disclosure Instead of Preferred Embodiments MPEP 2123 Patents as Literature of the Art MPEP 2123 Patents as Literature of the Art MPEP 2123 Prior Art’s Broad Disclosure Does Not Teach Away From Alternative Solutions MPEP 2123 Prior Art Can Anticipate Even If It Teaches Away MPEP 2123 Reference May Suggest Nonpreferred Embodiments MPEP 2123 Permitted Disclosed Examples Do Not Teach Away From Broader Disclosure MPEP 2123 Inferior Alternative Does Not Teach Away MPEP 2123 Inferior Alternative Does Not Teach Away MPEP 2123 Patent Over One Year Old Is Prior Art MPEP 1504.06 Permitted Other Related FAQs 5 FAQs Collapse Can a prior art reference that criticizes an invention still be used against it? How does MPEP 2123 address the use of broad disclosures in prior art? Can nonpreferred embodiments in a patent be used as prior art? What is the significance of &#8220;teaching away&#8221; in patent law? How does an examiner handle new matter in a patent application?