Go to MPEP - Table of Contents
706.02(i) Form Paragraphs for Use in Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 102 [R-1] - 700 Examination of Applications
706.02(i) Form Paragraphs for Use in Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 102 [R-1]
The following form paragraphs should be used in making the appropriate rejections.
Note that the particular part of the reference relied upon to support the rejection should be identified.
¶ 7.07 Statement of Statutory Basis, 35 U.S.C. 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless --
Examiner Note
1. The statute is no longer being re-cited in all Office actions. It is only required in first actions on the merits and final rejections. Where the statute is not being cited in an action on the merits, use form paragraph 7.103.
2. Form paragraphs 7.07 to 7.14 are to be used ONLY ONCE in a given Office action.
¶ 7.08 102(a), Activity by Another Before Invention by Applicant
(a) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for a patent.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.07.¶ 7.09 102(b), Activity More Than One Year Prior to Filing
(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in the United States.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph must be preceded by paragraph form 7.07, and may be preceded by form paragraph 7.08.¶ 7.10 102(c), Invention Abandoned
(c) he has abandoned the invention.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.07, and may be preceded by one or more of form paragraphs 7.08 and 7.09.¶ 7.11 102(d), Foreign Patenting
(d) the invention was first patented or caused to be patented, or was the subject of an inventor's certificate, by the applicant or his legal representatives or assigns in a foreign country prior to the date of the application for patent in this country on an application for patent or inventor's certificate filed more than twelve months before the filing of the application in the United States.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.07, and may be preceded by one or more of form paragraphs 7.08 to 7.10.**>¶ 7.12 Rejection under 35 U.S.C 102(e), Patent Application Publication or Patent to Another with Earlier Filing Date, in view of the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) and the Intellectual Property and High Technology Technical Amendments Act of 2002
(e) the invention was described in (1) an application for patent, published under section 122(b), by another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent or (2) a patent granted on an application for patent by another filed in the United States before the invention by the applicant for patent, except that an international application filed under the treaty defined in section 351(a) shall have the effects for purposes of this subsection of an application filed in the United States only if the international application designated the United States and was published under Article 21(2) of such treaty in the English language.
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph should only be used if the reference is one of the following:
a U.S. patent or a publication of a U.S. application for patent filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a);
a U.S. patent issued directly or indirectly from, or a U.S. or WIPO publication of, an international application if the international application has an international filing date on or after November 29, 2000.
2. In determining the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date, consider priority/benefit claims to earlier-filed U.S. provisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), U.S. nonprovisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 121, and international applications under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c) if the subject matter used to make the rejection is appropriately supported in the relied upon earlier-filed application's disclosure (and any intermediate application(s)). Do NOT consider foreign priority claims under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) and 365(a).
3. In order to rely on an international filing date for prior art purposes under 35 U.S.C. 102(e), the international application must have been filed on or after November 29, 2000, it must have designated the U.S., and the international publication under PCT Article 21(2) by WIPO must have been in English. If any one of the conditions is not met, the international filing date is not a U.S. filing date for prior art purposes under 35 U.S.C. 102(e).
4. If an international application was published by WIPO in a language other than English, or did not designate the U.S., the International Application's publication by WIPO, the U.S. publication of the national stage application ( 35 U.S.C. 371) of the international application and a U.S. patent issued from the national stage of the international application may not be applied as a reference under 3 5 U.S.C. 102(e). The reference may be applied under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or (b) as of its publication date. See form paragraphs 7.08 and 7.09.
5. If an international application was published by WIPO in a language other than English, or did not designate the U.S., the U.S. publication of, or a U.S. patent issued from, a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c) to such an international application, has a 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date as of the earliest U.S. filing date after the international filing date.
6. If the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly, or indirectly, from an international application that has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, use form paragraph 7.12.01. In that situation, pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) is applicable in the determination of the prior art date of the patent issued from such an international application.
7. If the reference is a publication of an international application (including the U.S. publication of a national stage ( 35 U.S.C. 371)) that has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, do not use this form paragraph. Such a reference may not be applied as a prior art reference under 35 U.S.C. 102(e). The reference may be applied under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or (b) as of its publication date. See form paragraphs 7.08 and 7.09.
8. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.07, and may be preceded by one or more of form paragraphs 7.08 to 7.11.
¶ 7.12.01 Rejection under 3 5 U.S.C. 102(e), Patent to Another with Earlier Filing Date, Reference is a U.S. Patent Issued Directly or Indirectly From a National Stage of, or a Continuing Application Claiming Benefit under 35 U.S.C. 365(c) to, an International Application Having an International Filing Date Prior to November 29, 2000
(e) the invention was described in a patent granted on an application for patent by another filed in the United States before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent, or on an international application by another who has fulfilled the requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of section 371(c) of this title before the invention thereof by the applicant for patent.
The changes made to 35 U.S.C. 102(e) by the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) and the Intellectual Property and High Technology Technical Amendments Act of 2002 do not apply when the reference is a U.S. patent resulting directly or indirectly from an international application filed before November 29, 2000. Therefore, the prior art date of the reference is determined under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) prior to the amendment by the AIPA (pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C. 102(e)).
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph should only be used if the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly or indirectly from either a national stage of an international application (application under 35 U.S.C. 371) which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000 or a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 365(c) to an international application having an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000.
2. If the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly from a national stage of such an international application, the reference's 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date is the date that the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371(c)(1), (2) and (4) were fulfilled. The language of WIPO publication (PCT) is not relevant in this situation. Caution: the international publication of the international application (PCT) by WIPO may have an earlier prior art date under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or 102(b).
3. If the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly from a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c) to such an international application (which had not entered the national stage prior to the continuing application's filing date, otherwise see note 4), the prior art reference's 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date is the actual U.S. filing date of the continuing application. Caution: the international publication of the international application (PCT) by WIPO may have an earlier prior art date under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or 102(b).
4. In determining the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date, consider priority/benefit claims to earlier-filed U.S. provisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), U.S. nonprovisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 121, and international applications under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c) only if the subject matter used to make the rejection is appropriately supported in the relied upon earlier-filed application's disclosure (and any intermediate application(s)). A benefit claim to a U.S. patent of an earlier-filed international application may only result in an effective U.S. filing date as of the date the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371(c)(1), (2) and (4) were fulfilled. Do NOT consider any priority/benefit claims to U.S. applications which are filed before an international application. Do NOT consider foreign priority claims under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) and 365(a).
5. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.07, and may be preceded by one or more of form paragraphs 7.08 to 7.11.
<¶ 7.13 102(f), Applicant Not the Inventor
(f) he did not himself invent the subject matter sought to be patented.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.07, and may be preceded by one or more of form paragraphs 7.08 to 7.12.¶ 7.14 102(g), Priority of Invention
(g)(1) during the course of an interference conducted under section 135 or section 291, another inventor involved therein establishes, to the extent permitted in section 104, that before such person's invention thereof the invention was made by such other inventor and not abandoned, suppressed, or concealed, or (2) before such person's invention thereof, the invention was made in this country by another inventor who had not abandoned, suppressed, or concealed it. In determining priority of invention under this subsection, there shall be considered not only the respective dates of conception and reduction to practice of the invention, but also the reasonable diligence of one who was first to conceive and last to reduce to practice, from a time prior to conception by the other.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.07, and may be preceded by one or more of form paragraphs 7.08 to 7.13.¶ 7.15 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(a), (b) Patent or Publication, and (g)
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102[2] as being [3] by [4].
Examiner Note
1. In bracket 2, insert the appropriate paragraph letter or letters of 35 U.S.C. 102 in parentheses. If paragraph (e) of 35 U.S.C. 102 is applicable, use form paragraph 7.15.02.
2. In bracket 3, insert either --clearly anticipated-- or --anticipated-- with an explanation at the end of the paragraph.
3. In bracket 4, insert the prior art relied upon.
4. This rejection must be preceded either by form paragraph 7.07 and form paragraphs 7.08, 7.09, and 7.14 as appropriate, or by form paragraph 7.103.
5. If 35 U.S.C. 102(e) is also being applied, this paragraph must be followed by either form paragraph 7.15.02 or 7.15.03.
**>¶ 7.15.01 Provisional Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(e) - Common Assignee or At Least One Common Inventor
Claim [1] provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as being anticipated by copending Application No. [2] which has a common [3] with the instant application.
Based upon the earlier effective U.S. filing date of the copending application, it would constitute prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e), if patented. This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) is based upon a presumption of future patenting of the copending application. [4].
This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) might be overcome either by a showing under 37 CFR 1.132 that any invention disclosed but not claimed in the copending application was derived from the inventor of this application and is thus not the invention "by another," or by an appropriate showing under 37 CFR 1.131.
This rejection may not be overcome by the filing of a terminal disclaimer. See In re Bartfeld, 925 F.2d 1450, 17 USPQ2d 1885 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph is used to provisionally reject over a copending application with an earlier filing date that discloses the claimed invention. The copending application must have either a common assignee or at least one common inventor.
2. If the claims are obvious over the invention disclosed in the other copending application, use form paragraph 7.21.01.
3. In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--.
4. In bracket 4, an appropriate explanation may be provided in support of the examiner's position on anticipation, if necessary.
5. If the claims of the copending application conflict with the claims of the instant application, a provisional double patenting rejection should also be given using form paragraphs 8.30 and 8.32.
6. If evidence is additionally of record to show that either invention is prior art unto the other under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g), a rejection using form paragraphs 7.13 and/or 7.14 should also be made.
¶ 7.15.02 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(e), Common Assignee or Inventor(s)
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as being anticipated by [2].
The applied reference has a common [3] with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effective U.S. filing date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) might be overcome either by a showing under 37 CFR 1.132 that any invention disclosed but not claimed in the reference was derived from the inventor of this application and is thus not the invention "by another," or by an appropriate showing under 37 CFR 1.131.
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph is used to reject over a patent with an earlier filing date that discloses but does not claim the same invention. The patent must have either a common assignee or a common inventor.
2. In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--.
¶ 7.15.03 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(e), No Common Assignee or Inventor(s)
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as being [2] by [3].
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph is used to reject over a patent or patent application publication with an earlier filing date that discloses but does not claim the same invention. The patent or patent application publication is not required to have a common assignee nor a common inventor.
2. 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) and the Intellectual Property and High Technology Technical Amendments Act of 2002 (form paragraph 7.12) must be applied if the reference is one of the following:
a U.S. patent or a publication of a U.S. application for patent filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a);
a U.S. patent issued directly or indirectly from, or a U.S. or WIPO publication of, an international application if the international application has an international filing date on or after November 29, 2000.
See the Examiner Notes for form paragraph 7.12 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date of the reference.
3. Pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C 102(e) (form paragraph 7.12.01) must be applied if the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly, or indirectly, from an international application filed prior to November 29, 2000. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraph 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date of the reference.
4. In determining the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date, consider priority/benefit claims to earlier-filed U.S. provisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), U.S. nonprovisional applications under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 121, and international applications under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c) if the subject matter used to make the rejection is appropriately supported in the relied upon earlier-filed application's disclosure (and any intermediate application(s)). A benefit claim to a U.S. patent of an earlier-filed international application, which has an international filing date prior to November29, 2000, may only result in an effective U.S. filing date as of the date the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371(c)(1), (2) and (4) were fulfilled. Do NOT consider any priority/benefit claims to U.S. applications which are filed before an international application that has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. Do NOT consider foreign priority claims under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) and 365(a).
5. If the reference is a publication of an international application (including voluntary U.S. publication under 35 U.S.C. 122of the national stage or a WIPO publication) that has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, did not designate the United States or was not published in English by WIPO, do not use this form paragraph. Such a reference is not a prior art reference under 35 U.S.C. 102(e). The reference may be applied under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or (b) as of its publication date. See form paragraphs 7.08 and 7.09.
6. In bracket 2, insert either --clearly anticipated-- or --anticipated-- with an explanation at the end of the paragraph.
7. In bracket 3, insert the prior art relied upon.
8. This form paragraph must be preceded by either of form paragraphs 7.12 or 7.12.01.
9. Patent application publications may only be used if this form paragraph was preceded by form paragraph 7.12.
<¶ 7.16 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(b), Public Use or on Sale
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(b) based upon a public use or sale of the invention. [2]
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph must be preceded either by form paragraphs 7.07 and 7.09 or by form paragraph 7.103.
2. A full explanation of the evidence establishing a public use or sale must be provided in bracket 2.
¶ 7.17 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(c), Abandonment of Invention
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(c) because the invention has been abandoned. [2]
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph must be preceded either by form paragraph 7.07 and 7.10 or by form paragraph 7.103.
2. In bracket 2, insert a full explanation of the evidence establishing abandonment of the invention. See MPEP § 2134.
¶ 7.18 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(d), Foreign Patenting
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(d) as being barred by applicants [2].
[3]
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph must be preceded either by form paragraphs 7.07 and 7.11 or by form paragraph 7.103.
2. In bracket 3, insert an explanation of this rejection which must include appropriate dates and how they make the foreign patent available under 35 U.S.C. 102(d).
3. Refer to MPEP § 2135 for applicable 35 U.S.C. 102(d) prior art.
¶ 7.19 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 102(f), Applicant Not the Inventor
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) because the applicant did not invent the claimed subject matter. [2]
Examiner Note
1. This form paragraph must be preceded either by form paragraphs 7.07 and 7.13 or by form paragraph 7.103.
2. In bracket 2, insert an explanation of the supporting evidence establishing that applicant was not the inventor. See MPEP § 2137.
Go to MPEP - Table of Contents