What is the significance of foreign patent documents in MPEP 904 searches?
MPEP 904 emphasizes the importance of including foreign patent documents in comprehensive prior art searches. The section states:
“In general, the examiner should search in all pertinent areas of the US, FPRS (Foreign Patent Retrieval System), NPL and Internet databases…”
Key points about searching foreign patent documents include:
- Foreign Patent Retrieval System (FPRS) is a specific tool mentioned for accessing foreign patents
- Examiners are expected to consider relevant foreign patent documents
- Foreign patents can provide valuable prior art not found in US patents
- The global nature of technology development necessitates searching beyond US patent databases
By including foreign patent documents in their searches, examiners can ensure a more comprehensive examination of the global state of the art relevant to a patent application.
To learn more: