What happens if classification information for a citation is incorrect or missing?
The MPEP provides clear guidance on how the USPTO handles incorrect or missing classification information for citations:
If the applicant does not provide classification information for a citation, or if the examiner lines through incorrect classification data, the citation will be printed on the face of the patent without the classification information.
This means that even if the classification data is missing or incorrect, the citation itself will still be included on the patent. However, users of the patent should be aware that they may need to independently verify the correct classification for such citations.
To learn more:
Topics:
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure