What is the purpose of publishing a representative claim in the Official Gazette notice for an inter partes reexamination certificate?

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.

The purpose of publishing a representative claim in the Official Gazette notice for an inter partes reexamination certificate is to provide a quick overview of the patent’s subject matter and any changes that may have occurred during the reexamination process. According to MPEP 2691: “Additionally, a representative claim will be published along with an indication of any changes to the specification or drawing.”

This practice allows interested parties to quickly assess the scope and nature of the reexamined patent without having to review the entire document. It serves as a concise summary of the reexamination outcome and helps patent professionals and researchers efficiently track changes to patent claims.