What types of information can be requested in a Requirement for Information?
What types of information can be requested in a Requirement for Information?
A Requirement for Information under 37 CFR 1.105 can request various types of information relevant to the examination of a patent application. According to MPEP 704.14(a), this may include:
- Technical information about the invention
- Search results and prior art
- Commercial databases and internet searches
- Factual information about the applicant’s disclosure
- Dates of public use or sale
- Related applications and patents
The MPEP states: ‘Information requirements may be either specific or general in nature, so long as the requirements are reasonable under the circumstances.’ This allows examiners to tailor their requests to the specific needs of each application while ensuring that the requests remain within reasonable bounds.
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