Where can I find information about the former public use proceedings process?
If you need information about the former public use proceedings process, which was discontinued in 2012, you should refer to an older version of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). The current MPEP section 720 provides guidance on where to find this historical information:
For information necessary regarding the former process, the August 2012 revision of the MPEP ( www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/old/mpep_E8R9.htm ) may be consulted.
This archived version of the MPEP contains details about how public use proceedings were conducted before their discontinuation. It’s important to note that while this information is valuable for historical context, it no longer applies to current patent examination procedures.
To learn more: