What is the purpose of restriction practice in patent applications?
The purpose of restriction practice in patent applications is to promote efficiency in patent examination and to ensure thorough review of each invention. According to MPEP 802, restriction practice serves several important functions:
- It allows for a more focused examination of each invention.
- It helps manage the workload of patent examiners.
- It ensures that each invention receives proper classification and searching.
- It prevents applicants from including multiple distinct inventions in a single application, which could lead to confusion or overbroad patent rights.
By requiring applicants to limit their applications to a single invention, the USPTO can maintain the quality and efficiency of the patent examination process.
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