Prosecution and procedure
IDS, benefit claims, rejections, interviews, amendments, declarations, restriction, double patenting and reexamination.
Prosecution and procedureMPEP 609: Information Disclosure Statements (IDS)MPEP 609 explained: what an information disclosure statement must contain and the 37 CFR 1.97 timing rules for having it considered.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 211: Claiming the Benefit of an Earlier Filing DateMPEP 211 explained: claiming priority to provisional and nonprovisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 120, copendency, and the reference requirement.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 706: Rejection of ClaimsMPEP 706 explained: rejections versus objections, the grounds for rejecting claims, and final rejections.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 713: Examiner InterviewsMPEP 713 explained: examiner interviews, when they are allowed, and why their substance must be made of record.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 714: AmendmentsMPEP 714 explained: amending claims and the specification, claim status identifiers, and amendments after final or after allowance under 37 CFR 1.312.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 716: Declarations and Unexpected ResultsMPEP 716 explained: Rule 132 declarations, objective evidence of nonobviousness, the nexus requirement, and unexpected results.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 803: Restriction RequirementsMPEP 803 explained: the two criteria for a proper restriction requirement, and election of species for Markush claims.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 804: Double PatentingMPEP 804 explained: statutory and nonstatutory (obviousness-type) double patenting, and overcoming it with a terminal disclaimer.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 821.04: RejoinderMPEP 821.04 explained: rejoinder of nonelected product or process claims once the elected claims are allowable.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 1490: Disclaimers and Terminal DisclaimersMPEP 1490 explained: statutory disclaimers and terminal disclaimers filed to overcome nonstatutory double patenting under 37 CFR 1.321.Read the entryProsecution and procedureMPEP 2242: Substantial New Question of PatentabilityMPEP 2242 explained: the substantial new question of patentability that decides whether ex parte reexamination is ordered.Read the entry