What types of documents are included in patent family information?

Patent family information encompasses a wide range of related patent documents. According to MPEP 901.07, these documents include:

“…all patents and patent publications that are related to a particular patent document.”

Specifically, patent family information may include:

  • Issued patents in various countries
  • Published patent applications
  • Continuation applications
  • Divisional applications
  • Continuation-in-part applications
  • PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) applications
  • Priority documents

By examining these related documents, patent examiners can gain a comprehensive understanding of an invention’s development and its protection across different jurisdictions.

To learn more:

Tags: patent applications, patent family documents, PCT applications, related patent documents