What is the purpose of the nonpatent literature collection in patent examination?
The nonpatent literature collection serves a crucial purpose in patent examination, as outlined in MPEP 901.06:
“The collection of nonpatent publications in the Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC) is for use by examiners in searching the prior art. These publications are found largely in the technology collection.”
The primary purposes of this collection are:
- To provide examiners with resources for conducting thorough prior art searches
- To supplement patent literature with scientific and technical information
- To ensure examiners have access to a wide range of relevant publications across various fields of technology
This comprehensive collection helps examiners make informed decisions about the novelty and non-obviousness of patent applications.
To learn more: