What is the purpose of patent family information in patent examination?
The purpose of patent family information in patent examination is to provide examiners with a comprehensive view of related patent documents across different jurisdictions. According to MPEP 901.07:
“Patent family information provides a list of all patents and patent publications that are related to a particular patent document.”
This information helps examiners:
- Identify relevant prior art more efficiently
- Understand the global patent landscape for a particular invention
- Assess the novelty and non-obviousness of claimed inventions in a broader context
To learn more: