Glossary

MPEP

Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, the USPTO's examiner manual.

35 U.S.C.

Title 35 of the U.S. Code: the patent statute.

37 C.F.R.

Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations: the USPTO's rules.

AIA

The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (2011), which moved the U.S. to first-inventor-to-file.

Office action

An examiner's written decision on an application, to which the applicant replies.

KSR rationales

The examples of obviousness reasoning set out in MPEP 2143, following KSR v. Teleflex (2007).

PCT

Patent Cooperation Treaty, which lets one international application seek protection in many countries.