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801Introduction | |||
This chapter is limited to a discussion of the subject | This chapter is limited to a discussion of the subject | ||
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Trademark Office is covered in Chapter 1800. | Trademark Office is covered in Chapter 1800. | ||
802Basis for Practice in Statute and | |||
Rules | |||
The basis for restriction and double patenting practices | The basis for restriction and double patenting practices | ||
is found in the following statute and rules: | is found in the following statute and rules: | ||
35 U.S.C. 121. Divisional applications. | |||
If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed | If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed | ||
in one application, the Director may require the application to be | in one application, the Director may require the application to be | ||
Line 44: | Line 40: | ||
The validity of a patent shall not be questioned for failure of the | The validity of a patent shall not be questioned for failure of the | ||
Director to require the application to be restricted to one invention. | Director to require the application to be restricted to one invention. | ||
37 CFR 1.141. Different inventions in one national | |||
application. | |||
(a) Two or more independent and distinct inventions may not | (a) Two or more independent and distinct inventions may not | ||
be claimed in one national application, except that more than one | be claimed in one national application, except that more than one | ||
Line 66: | Line 63: | ||
between the product and process of using the product can be | between the product and process of using the product can be | ||
made. | made. | ||
37 CFR 1.142. Requirement for restriction. | |||
(a) If two or more independent and distinct inventions are | (a)If two or more independent and distinct inventions are | ||
claimed in a single application, the examiner in an Office action | claimed in a single application, the examiner in an Office action | ||
will require the applicant in the reply to that action to elect an | will require the applicant in the reply to that action to elect an | ||
Line 80: | Line 75: | ||
any time before final action. | any time before final action. | ||
(b) Claims to the invention or inventions not elected, if not | (b)Claims to the invention or inventions not elected, if not | ||
canceled, are nevertheless withdrawn from further consideration | canceled, are nevertheless withdrawn from further consideration | ||
by the examiner by the election, subject however to reinstatement | by the examiner by the election, subject however to reinstatement | ||
in the event the requirement for restriction is withdrawn or overruled. | in the event the requirement for restriction is withdrawn or overruled. | ||
The pertinent Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) | The pertinent Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) | ||
Articles and Rules are cited and discussed in | Articles and Rules are cited and discussed in Chapter | ||
1800. Sections 1850, 1875, and 1893.03(d) should be | |||
consulted for discussions on unity of invention: | |||
(A)before the International Searching Authority; | |||
(B)before the International Preliminary Examining | |||
Authority; and | |||
(C)in the National Stage under 35 U.S.C. 371. | |||
802.01Meaning of “Independent” and | |||
“Distinct” [R-5] | |||
35 U.S.C. 121 quoted in the preceding section | |||
or more | states that the Director may require restriction if two | ||
claimed in one application. | or more “independent and distinct” inventions are | ||
claimed in one application. In 37 CFR 1.141, the | |||
statement is made that two or more “independent and | |||
distinct inventions” may not be claimed in one application. | |||
This raises the question of the inventions as | |||
or unrelated. If | between which the Director may require restriction. | ||
This, in turn, depends on the construction of the | |||
expression “independent and distinct” inventions. | |||
“Independent”, of course, means not dependent, | |||
or unrelated. If “distinct” means the same thing, then | |||
its use in the statute and in the rule is redundant. If | its use in the statute and in the rule is redundant. If | ||
“distinct” means something different, then the question | |||
arises as to what the difference in meaning | arises as to what the difference in meaning | ||
between these two words may be. | between these two words may be. The hearings before | ||
the committees of Congress considering the codification | |||
of the patent laws indicate that 35 U.S.C. 121: | |||
“enacts as law existing practice with respect to division, | |||
at the same time introducing a number of | |||
changes.” | |||
The report on the hearings does not mention as a | |||
practice the process; as composition and the process | change that is introduced, the inventions between | ||
which the Director may properly require division. | |||
The term “independent” as already pointed out, | |||
means not dependent, or unrelated. A large number | |||
of inventions between which, prior to the 1952 Act, | |||
division had been proper, are dependent inventions, | |||
such as, for example, combination and a subcombination | |||
thereof; as process and apparatus used in the | |||
practice of the process; as composition and the process | |||
in which the composition is used; as process and | in which the composition is used; as process and | ||
the product made by such process, etc. | the product made by such process, etc. If section 121 | ||
of the 1952 Act were intended to direct the Director | |||
never to approve division between dependent inventions, | |||
the word “independent” would clearly have | |||
been used alone. If the Director has authority or discretion | |||
to restrict independent inventions only, then | |||
restriction would be improper as between dependent | |||
inventions, e.g., the examples used for purpose of | |||
illustration above. Such was clearly not the intent of | |||
Congress. Nothing in the language of the statute and | |||
nothing in the hearings of the committees indicate any | |||
intent to change the substantive law on this subject. | |||
On the contrary, joinder of the term “distinct” with the | |||
term “independent”, indicates lack of such intent. The | |||
law has long been established that dependent inventions | |||
(frequently termed related inventions) such as | |||
used for illustration above may be properly divided if | used for illustration above may be properly divided if | ||
they are, in fact, | they are, in fact, “distinct” inventions, even though | ||
dependent. | dependent. | ||
I.INDEPENDENT | |||
The term | The term “independent” (i.e., unrelated) | ||
means that there is no disclosed relationship between | means that there is no disclosed relationship between | ||
the two or more inventions claimed, that is, they are | the two or more inventions claimed, that is, they are | ||
unconnected in design, operation, and effect. For | |||
example, a process and an apparatus incapable of | example, a process and an apparatus incapable of | ||
being used in practicing the process are independent | being used in practicing the process are independent | ||
inventions. See also MPEP § 806.06 and § 808.01. | inventions. See also MPEP § 806.06 and § 808.01. | ||
II.RELATED BUT DISTINCT | |||
Two or more inventions are related (i.e., not independent) | Two or more inventions are related (i.e., not independent) | ||
if they are disclosed as | if they are disclosed as connected in at least | ||
one of | one of design (e.g., structure or method of manufacture), | ||
operation (e.g., function or method of use), or | |||
effect. Examples of related inventions include combination | |||
and part (subcombination) thereof, process and | |||
apparatus for its practice, process and product made, | |||
etc. In this definition the term related is used as an | |||
alternative for dependent in referring to inventions | |||
other than independent inventions. | |||
Related inventions are distinct if the inventions as | |||
claimed are not connected in at least one of design, | |||
operation, or effect (e.g., can be made by, or used in, a | |||
materially different process) and wherein at least one | |||
invention is PATENTABLE (novel and nonobvious) | |||
OVER THE OTHER (though they may each be | |||
unpatentable over the prior art). See MPEP | |||
§ | |||
806.05(c) (combination and subcombination) and | |||
§ | |||
806.05(j) (related products or related processes) for | |||
examples of when a two-way test is required for distinctness. | |||
applicant to elect a single claimed invention for | It is further noted that the terms “independent” and | ||
“distinct” are used in decisions with varying meanings. | |||
All decisions should be read carefully to determine | |||
the meaning intended. | |||
802.02Definition of Restriction [R-3] | |||
Restriction is the practice of requiring an | |||
applicant to elect a single claimed invention (e.g., | |||
a combination or subcombination invention, a product | |||
or process invention, a species within a genus) for | |||
examination when two or more independent inventions | examination when two or more independent inventions | ||
and/or two or more distinct inventions are | and/or two or more distinct inventions are | ||
claimed in an application. | claimed in an application. | ||
803Restriction — When Proper [R-3] | |||
Under the statute, the claims of an application | Under the statute, the claims of an application | ||
Line 148: | Line 218: | ||
two or more claimed inventions only if they are able | two or more claimed inventions only if they are able | ||
to support separate patents and they are either independent | to support separate patents and they are either independent | ||
or distinct. | (MPEP § 802.01, § 806.06, and | ||
§ | |||
808.01) or distinct (MPEP § | |||
806.05 - | |||
§ | |||
806.05(j)). | |||
If the search and examination of all the claims | If the search and examination of all the claims | ||
Line 155: | Line 238: | ||
even though they include claims to | even though they include claims to | ||
independent or distinct inventions. | independent or distinct inventions. | ||
I. CRITERIA FOR RESTRICTION BETWEEN | I. CRITERIA FOR RESTRICTION BETWEEN | ||
PATENTABLY DISTINCT INVENTIONS | PATENTABLY DISTINCT INVENTIONS | ||
There are two criteria for a proper requirement for | There are two criteria for a proper requirement for | ||
restriction between patentably distinct inventions: | restriction between patentably distinct inventions: | ||
(A)The inventions must be independent or distinct | (A)The inventions must be independent (see | ||
as claimed; | MPEP § 802.01, § 806.06, § 808.01) or distinct | ||
as claimed (see MPEP § 806.05 - § 806.05(j)); | |||
and | and | ||
(B)There would be a serious burden on the | (B)There would be a serious burden on the | ||
examiner if restriction is not required. | examiner if restriction is not required (see MPEP | ||
§ | |||
803.02, § | |||
808, and § | |||
808.02). | |||
II. GUIDELINES | II. GUIDELINES | ||
Examiners must provide reasons and/or examples | |||
to support conclusions, but need not cite documents to | |||
support the restriction requirement in most cases. | |||
Where plural inventions are capable of being | |||
viewed as related in two ways, both applicable criteria | |||
for distinctness must be demonstrated to support a | |||
restriction requirement. | |||
If there is an express admission that the claimed | If there is an express admission that the claimed | ||
inventions would have been obvious over each | inventions would have been obvious over each | ||
other within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 103, restriction | other within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 103, restriction | ||
should not be required. | should not be required. In re Lee, 199 USPQ 108 | ||
(Comm’r Pat. 1978). | |||
For purposes of the initial requirement, a serious | For purposes of the initial requirement, a serious | ||
Line 180: | Line 286: | ||
by appropriate explanation of separate classification, | by appropriate explanation of separate classification, | ||
or separate status in the art, or a different field of | or separate status in the art, or a different field of | ||
search as defined in MPEP § 808.02. That prima | search as defined in MPEP § | ||
808.02. That prima facieshowing may be rebutted by appropriate showings or | |||
evidence by the applicant. Insofar as the criteria for | |||
restriction practice relating to Markush-type claims is | restriction practice relating to Markush-type claims is | ||
concerned, the criteria is set forth in MPEP § 803.02. | concerned, the criteria is set forth in MPEP § 803.02. | ||
Insofar as the criteria for restriction or election practice | Insofar as the criteria for restriction or election practice | ||
relating to claims to genus-species, see MPEP | relating to claims to genus-species, see MPEP | ||
§ 806.04 - § 806.04(i) and § 808.01(a). | § | ||
806.04 - § 806.04(i) and § 808.01(a). | |||
803.01Review by Examiner with at | |||
Least Partial Signatory Authority | |||
[R-3] | |||
Since requirements for restriction under 35 U.S.C. | Since requirements for restriction under 35 U.S.C. | ||
Line 211: | Line 324: | ||
for restriction. | for restriction. | ||
803.02Markush Claims [R-5] | |||
A Markush-type claim recites alternatives in a format | A Markush-type claim recites alternatives in a format | ||
such as | such as “selected from the group consisting of A, | ||
B and C. | B and C.” See Ex parte Markush, 1925 C.D. 126 | ||
(Comm’r Pat. 1925). The members of the Markush | (Comm’r Pat. 1925). The members of the Markush | ||
group (A, B, and C in the example above) ordinarily | group (A, B, and C in the example above) ordinarily | ||
Line 233: | Line 346: | ||
also be claimed by using the Markush style of claiming. | also be claimed by using the Markush style of claiming. | ||
See MPEP § 2173.05(h). | See MPEP § 2173.05(h). | ||
If the members of the Markush group are sufficiently | If the members of the Markush group are sufficiently | ||
Line 307: | Line 425: | ||
statement filed during the period set forth in | statement filed during the period set forth in | ||
37 CFR 1.97(c) with the fee set forth in 37 CFR | 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the fee set forth in 37 CFR | ||
1.17(p). See MPEP § 706.07(a). | 1.17(p). See MPEP § | ||
706.07(a). | |||
On the other hand, should the examiner determine | On the other hand, should the examiner determine | ||
Line 333: | Line 453: | ||
examiner introduces a new ground of rejection that is | examiner introduces a new ground of rejection that is | ||
neither necessitated by applicant’s amendment of the | neither necessitated by applicant’s amendment of the | ||
claims nor based on information submitted in an | claims nor based on information submitted in an | ||
information disclosure statement filed during the | information disclosure statement filed during the | ||
period set forth in 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the fee set | period set forth in 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the fee set | ||
forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p). See MPEP § 706.07(a). | forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p). See MPEP § | ||
706.07(a). | |||
Amendments submitted after the final rejection further | Amendments submitted after the final rejection further | ||
restricting the scope of the claim may be denied | restricting the scope of the claim may be denied | ||
entry if they do not comply with the requirements of | entry if they do not comply with the requirements of | ||
37 CFR 1.116. See MPEP § 714.13. | 37 CFR 1.116. See MPEP § | ||
714.13. | |||
If a Markush claim depends from or otherwise | If a Markush claim depends from or otherwise | ||
Line 346: | Line 476: | ||
claim, see MPEP § 809. | claim, see MPEP § 809. | ||
803.03 Transitional Applications | |||
[R-3] | |||
PRACTICE RE TRANSITIONAL APPLICATION | PRACTICE RE TRANSITIONAL APPLICATION | ||
37 CFR 1.129. Transitional procedures for limited | |||
examination after final rejection and restriction practice. | |||
(b)(1) In an application, other than for reissue or a design | (b)(1) In an application, other than for reissue or a design | ||
patent, that has been pending for at least three years as of June 8, | patent, that has been pending for at least three years as of June 8, | ||
Line 401: | Line 536: | ||
(3)The additional inventions for which the required fee | (3)The additional inventions for which the required fee | ||
has not been paid will be withdrawn from consideration under | has not been paid will be withdrawn from consideration under | ||
§ 1.142(b). An applicant who desires examination of an invention | § | ||
1.142(b). An applicant who desires examination of an invention | |||
so withdrawn from consideration can file a divisional application | so withdrawn from consideration can file a divisional application | ||
under 35 U.S.C. 121. | under 35 U.S.C. 121. | ||
Line 407: | Line 544: | ||
(c)The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to | (c)The provisions of this section shall not be applicable to | ||
any application filed after June 8, 1995. | any application filed after June 8, 1995. | ||
“Restriction” under 37 CFR 1.129(b) applies to | |||
both restriction requirements under 37 CFR 1.142 and | both restriction requirements under 37 CFR 1.142 and | ||
election of species requirements under 37 CFR 1.146. | election of species requirements under 37 CFR 1.146. | ||
Line 454: | Line 589: | ||
one of the disclosed independent and distinct inventions | one of the disclosed independent and distinct inventions | ||
in the present or parent application such that no | in the present or parent application such that no | ||
restriction requirement could be made prior to April 8, | restriction requirement could be made prior to April 8, | ||
1995, and | 1995, and | ||
Line 543: | Line 684: | ||
a 20-year patent term. | a 20-year patent term. | ||
Form paragraph 8.41 may be used to notify applicant | |||
that the application is a transitional application | |||
and is entitled to consideration of additional inventions | |||
upon payment of the required fee. | |||
¶ 8.41 Transitional Restriction or Election of Species | |||
Requirement To Be Mailed After June 8, 1995 | |||
This application is subject to the transitional restriction provisions | |||
of Public Law 103-465, which became effective on June 8, | |||
1995, because: | |||
1.the application was filed on or before June 8, 1995, and | |||
has an effective U.S. filing date of June 8, 1992, or earlier; | |||
2.a requirement for restriction was not made in the present | |||
or a parent application prior to April 8, 1995; and | |||
3.the examiner was not prevented from making a requirement | |||
for restriction in the present or a parent application prior to | |||
April 8, 1995, due to actions by the applicant. | |||
The transitional restriction provisions permit applicant to have | |||
more than one independent and distinct invention examined in the | |||
same application by paying a fee for each invention in excess of | |||
one. | |||
Final rules concerning the transition restriction provisions were | |||
published in the Federal Register at 60 FR 20195 (April 25, 1995) | |||
and in the Official Gazette at 1174 O.G. 15 (May 2, 1995). The | |||
final rules at 37 CFR 1.17(s) include the fee amount required to be | |||
paid for each additional invention as set forth in the following | |||
requirement for restriction. See the current fee schedule for the | |||
proper amount of the fee. | |||
Applicant must either: (1) elect the invention or inventions to | |||
be searched and examined and pay the fee set forth in 37 CFR | |||
1.17(s) for each independent and distinct invention in excess of | |||
one which applicant elects; or (2) file a petition under 37 CFR | |||
1.129(b) traversing the requirement. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph should be used in all restriction or election | |||
of species requirements made in applications subject to the | |||
transition restriction provisions set forth in 37 CFR 1.129(b) | |||
where the requirement is being mailed after June 8, 1995. The | |||
procedure is NOT applicable to any design or reissue application. | |||
803.03(a)Transitional Application — | |||
Linking Claim Allowable [R-3] | |||
Whenever divided inventions in a transitional | Whenever divided inventions in a transitional | ||
application are rejoined because a linking claim is | application are rejoined because a linking claim is | ||
allowable (MPEP § 809, § 821.04, and | allowable (MPEP § 809, § 821.04, and | ||
§ 821.04(a)) and applicant paid the fee set forth in | § | ||
821.04(a)) and applicant paid the fee set forth in | |||
37 CFR 1.17(s) for the additional invention, applicant | 37 CFR 1.17(s) for the additional invention, applicant | ||
should be notified that he or she may request a refund | should be notified that he or she may request a refund | ||
of the fee paid for that additional invention. | of the fee paid for that additional invention. | ||
803.03(b)Transitional Application — | |||
Generic Claim Allowable [R-3] | |||
Whenever claims drawn to an additional species in | Whenever claims drawn to an additional species in | ||
Line 567: | Line 766: | ||
species would no longer be withdrawn | species would no longer be withdrawn | ||
from consideration should be made as indicated in | from consideration should be made as indicated in | ||
MPEP § 806.04(d), § 821.04, and § 821.04(a). | MPEP § 806.04(d), § 821.04, and § | ||
821.04(a). | |||
Flowchart | |||
803.04 Nucleotide Sequences [R-3] | |||
By statute, “[i]f two or more independent and distinct | By statute, “[i]f two or more independent and distinct | ||
Line 673: | Line 887: | ||
whole renders the claim allowable. | whole renders the claim allowable. | ||
Applications containing only composition | Applications containing only composition | ||
claims | claims | ||
reciting different combinations of individual | reciting different combinations of individual | ||
nucleotide sequences, such as set forth in example | nucleotide sequences, such as set forth in example | ||
(C), will be subject to a restriction requirement. | (C), will be subject to a restriction requirement. | ||
Line 707: | Line 926: | ||
rejoinder. See MPEP § 821.04. | rejoinder. See MPEP § 821.04. | ||
804Definition of Double Patenting[R-5] | |||
35 U.S.C. 101. Inventions Patentable. | |||
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, | Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, | ||
machine, manufacture, or composition of matter or any new and | machine, manufacture, or composition of matter or any new and | ||
useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject | useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject | ||
to the conditions and requirements of this title. | to the conditions and requirements of this title. | ||
35 U.S.C. 121. Divisional Applications. | |||
If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed | If two or more independent and distinct inventions are claimed | ||
in one application, the Director may require the application to be | in one application, the Director may require the application to be | ||
Line 736: | Line 955: | ||
The validity of a patent shall not be questioned for failure of the | The validity of a patent shall not be questioned for failure of the | ||
Director to require the application to be restricted to one invention. | Director to require the application to be restricted to one invention. | ||
Line 744: | Line 962: | ||
doctrine is that: | doctrine is that: | ||
The public should . . . be able to act on the assumption that upon the expiration of the patent it will be free to use not only the invention claimed in the patent but also modifications | The public should . . . be able to act on the assumption that | ||
upon the expiration of the patent it will be free to use not | |||
only the invention claimed in the patent but also modifications | |||
or variants which would have been obvious to those | or variants which would have been obvious to those | ||
of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was | of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was | ||
made, taking into account the skill in the art and prior art | made, taking into account the skill in the art and prior art | ||
other than the invention claimed in the issued patent. | other than the invention claimed in the issued patent. | ||
In re Zickendraht, 319 F.2d 225, 232, 138 USPQ | |||
22, 27 (CCPA 1963) (Rich, J., concurring). Double | |||
patenting results when the right to exclude granted by | |||
a first patent is unjustly extended by the grant of a | |||
later issued patent or patents. In re Van Ornum, 686 | |||
F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982). | |||
Before consideration can be given to the issue of | Before consideration can be given to the issue of | ||
Line 774: | Line 1,001: | ||
There are generally two types of double patenting | There are generally two types of double patenting | ||
rejections. One is the | rejections. One is the “same invention” type double | ||
patenting rejection based on 35 U.S.C. 101 which | patenting rejection based on 35 U.S.C. 101 which | ||
states in the singular that an inventor | states in the singular that an inventor “may obtain | ||
a patent. | a | ||
patent.” The second is the “nonstatutory-type” double | |||
patenting rejection based on a judicially created | patenting rejection based on a judicially created | ||
doctrine grounded in public policy and which is primarily | doctrine grounded in public policy and which is primarily | ||
intended to prevent prolongation of the patent | intended to prevent prolongation of the patent | ||
term by | term by prohibiting claims in a second patent not patentably | ||
distinguishing from claims in a first patent | distinguishing from claims in a first patent. | ||
Nonstatutory double patenting includes rejections | Nonstatutory double patenting includes rejections | ||
based on either a one-way determination of obviousness | based on either a one-way determination of obviousness | ||
or a two-way determination of obviousness. | or a two-way determination of obviousness. | ||
Nonstatutory double patenting could include a rejection | Nonstatutory double patenting could include a rejection | ||
which is not the usual | which is not the usual “obviousness-type” double | ||
patenting rejection. This type of double patenting | patenting rejection. This type of double patenting | ||
rejection is rare and is limited to the particular facts of | rejection is rare and is limited to the particular facts of | ||
the case. | the case. In re Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 USPQ | ||
210 (CCPA 1968). | |||
Refer to Charts I-A, I-B, II-A, and II-B for an overview | Refer to Charts I-A, I-B, II-A, and II-B for an overview | ||
Line 799: | Line 1,034: | ||
to double patenting rejections in reexamination | to double patenting rejections in reexamination | ||
proceedings. | proceedings. | ||
Chart I-A. Conflicting Claims Between: Two ApplicationsChart I-A. Conflicting Claims Between: Two Applications | Chart I-A. Conflicting Claims Between: Two ApplicationsChart I-A. Conflicting Claims Between: Two Applications | ||
Double patenting may exist between an issued | Chart I-B. Conflicting Claims Between: Two ApplicationsChart I-B. Conflicting Claims Between: Two Applications | ||
Assignee Required to Either: | |||
(a) Name First Inventor of Conflicting | |||
Subject Matter under 102(f) or (g) | |||
or | |||
(b) Show Inventions Were Commonly | |||
Owned at Time of Applicant’s | |||
Invention | |||
Rejection under | |||
102(f)/103(a) | |||
or 102(g)/103(a) | |||
based on evidence | |||
7.21 | |||
CHART I-B7.21 | |||
(Provisional)2Rejection | |||
of Later Application | |||
under 102(e)/103(a) | |||
Provisional ObviousnessDouble-Patenting | |||
Rejection17.21.01 or 7.21.02CONFLICTING CLAIMS BETWEEN | |||
TWO APPLICATIONS8.33 & 8.35 or 8.37 | |||
Provisional Obviousness | |||
Double-Patenting Rejection8.33 & 8.35 or 8.37 | |||
Let Earlier Application | |||
Issue or Publish and Reject | |||
Later Application under | |||
102(e)/103(a) | |||
7.21 | |||
Provisional Obviousness | |||
Double-Patenting | |||
Rejection18.33 & 8.35 or 8.37Same | |||
InventiveEntity | |||
And AndCurrently | |||
Commonly Owned: | |||
Different Inventive EntitiesRejection under | |||
102(f)/103(a) | |||
or | |||
102(g)/103(a) | |||
based on | |||
evidence(Provisional)2 Rejection | |||
of Later Application | |||
under 102(e)/103(a) | |||
8.33 & 8.35 or 8.37 | |||
Commonly Owned at Time | |||
of Applicant’s InventionNo Showing of Common Ownership at Time of Applicant’s Invention/No Joint Research Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
AndAndAnd/Or1 Where the reference is available as anticipatory prior art, a (provisional)2 rejection should be made under 102(e). | |||
2 Where the application being applied as a reference has NOT been published, the rejection under 102(e)/103(a) should be | |||
provisional. | |||
No Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
No Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
Proper Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
DIFFERENT INVENTIONS(Not Patentably Distinct) | |||
Different Inventive | |||
Entities, At Least One | |||
Common Inventor, No | |||
Common Assignee | |||
No Common | |||
Assignee or | |||
Inventor | |||
8.28 | |||
Provisional Obviousness | |||
Double-Patenting | |||
Rejection7.21.01 or 7.21.02 | |||
Proper Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
Chart II-A. Conflicting Claims Between: Application and a PatentChart II-A. Conflicting Claims Between: Application and a Patent | |||
Chart II-B. Conflicting Claims Between: Application and a PatentChart II-B. Conflicting Claims Between: Application and a Patent | |||
Assignee Required to Either: | |||
(a) Name First Inventor of Conflicting | |||
Subject Matter under 102(f) or (g) | |||
or | |||
(b) Show Inventions Were Commonly | |||
Owned at Time of Applicant’s | |||
Invention | |||
Rejection under | |||
102(f)/103(a) | |||
or 102(g)/103(a) | |||
based on evidence | |||
7.21 | |||
CHART II-BObviousness Double- | |||
Patenting Rejection1Rejection under | |||
102(e)/103(a) | |||
7.21.02 8.33 & 8.34 or 8.36 | |||
Obviousness Double- | |||
Patenting Rejection8.33 & 8.34 or 8.36 | |||
Rejection under | |||
102(e)/103(a) | |||
7.21 | |||
Obviousness Double- | |||
Patenting Rejection18.33 & 8.34 or 8.36Same | |||
InventiveEntity | |||
And AndCurrently | |||
Commonly Owned: | |||
Different Inventive EntitiesRejection under | |||
102(e)/103(a) | |||
Commonly Owned at Time of Applicant’s Invention | |||
No Showing of Common Ownership at Time of Applicant’s Invention/No Joint Research Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
AndAndAnd/OrNo Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
No Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
Proper Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
DIFFERENT INVENTIONS(Not Patentably Distinct) | |||
Different Inventive | |||
Entities, At Least One | |||
Common Inventor, No | |||
Common Assignee | |||
No Common | |||
Assignee or | |||
Inventor | |||
Obviousness Double- | |||
Patenting Rejection | |||
Proper Joint Research | |||
Exclusion under 103(c) | |||
CONFLICTING CLAIMS BETWEEN | |||
AN APPLICATION AND A PATENTRejection under | |||
102(f)/103(a) | |||
or | |||
102(g)/103(a) | |||
based on | |||
evidence7.21 | |||
8.28 | |||
7.21.02 8.33 & 8.34 or 8.36 | |||
1 Where the reference is available as anticipatory prior art, a rejection should be made under 102(e). | |||
I.INSTANCES WHERE DOUBLE PATENTING | |||
ISSUE CAN BE RAISED | |||
A double patenting issue may arise between two or | |||
more pending applications, or between one or more | |||
pending applications and a patent. A double patenting | |||
issue may likewise arise in a reexamination proceeding | |||
between the patent claims being reexamined and | |||
the claims of one or more applications and/or patents. | |||
Double patenting does not relate to international | |||
applications which have not yet entered the national | |||
stage in the United States. | |||
A.Between Issued Patent and One or More | |||
Applications | |||
Double patenting may exist between an issued | |||
patent and an application filed by the same inventive | patent and an application filed by the same inventive | ||
entity, or by a different inventive entity having a common | entity, or by a different inventive entity having a common | ||
Line 836: | Line 1,234: | ||
of the rights granted in the first patent. | of the rights granted in the first patent. | ||
B.Between Copending Applications—Provisional | |||
Rejections | |||
Occasionally, the examiner becomes aware of two | Occasionally, the examiner becomes aware of two | ||
Line 899: | Line 1,298: | ||
withdrawn without a terminal disclaimer. | withdrawn without a terminal disclaimer. | ||
Where there are three applications containing | |||
Where there are three applications containing | |||
claims that conflict such that an ODP rejection is | claims that conflict such that an ODP rejection is | ||
made in each application based upon the other two, it | made in each application based upon the other two, it | ||
Line 912: | Line 1,316: | ||
link the other two applications to each other. | link the other two applications to each other. | ||
2. Statutory Double Patenting Rejections (35 U.S.C. 101) | 2.Statutory Double Patenting Rejections (35 | ||
U.S.C. 101) | |||
A terminal disclaimer cannot be filed to obviate a | A terminal disclaimer cannot be filed to obviate a | ||
Line 940: | Line 1,345: | ||
patent. | patent. | ||
C.Between One or More Applications and a | |||
Published Application - Provisional Rejections | |||
Double patenting may exist where a published | Double patenting may exist where a published | ||
Line 959: | Line 1,365: | ||
double patenting rejections in subsection B. above. | double patenting rejections in subsection B. above. | ||
D.Reexamination Proceedings | |||
A double patenting issue may raise a substantial | A double patenting issue may raise a substantial | ||
Line 974: | Line 1,380: | ||
double patenting was not addressed during original | double patenting was not addressed during original | ||
prosecution, it may be considered during reexamination. | prosecution, it may be considered during reexamination. | ||
Double patenting may exist where a reference | Double patenting may exist where a reference | ||
Line 997: | Line 1,404: | ||
rejections in reexamination proceedings. Subsection | rejections in reexamination proceedings. Subsection | ||
II., below, describes situations wherein a double pat | II., below, describes situations wherein a double pat | ||
enting rejection would be appropriate. In particular, | enting rejection would be appropriate. In particular, | ||
see paragraph II.B.1. for the analysis required to | see paragraph II.B.1. for the analysis required to | ||
Line 1,002: | Line 1,416: | ||
patenting rejection. | patenting rejection. | ||
II.REQUIREMENTS OF A DOUBLE PATENTING | |||
REJECTION (INCLUDING PROVISIONAL | |||
REJECTIONS) | |||
When a double patenting rejection is appropriate, it | When a double patenting rejection is appropriate, it | ||
Line 1,025: | Line 1,441: | ||
invention drawn to identical subject matter. Miller v. | invention drawn to identical subject matter. Miller v. | ||
Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, | Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, | ||
422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In | 422 | ||
F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In | |||
re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA | re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA | ||
1957). Where the claims of an application are not the | 1957). Where the claims of an application are not the | ||
Line 1,038: | Line 1,455: | ||
determine the following: | determine the following: | ||
(A) Whether a double patenting rejection is prohibited | (A)Whether a double patenting rejection is prohibited | ||
by the third sentence of 35 U.S.C. 121 (see | by the third sentence of 35 U.S.C. 121 (see | ||
MPEP § 804.01; if such a prohibition applies, a double | MPEP § 804.01; if such a prohibition applies, a double | ||
patenting rejection cannot be made); | patenting rejection cannot be made); | ||
(B) Whether a statutory basis exists; and | (B)Whether a statutory basis exists; and | ||
(C) Whether a nonstatutory basis exists. | (C)Whether a nonstatutory basis exists. | ||
Each determination must be made on the basis of | Each determination must be made on the basis of | ||
Line 1,069: | Line 1,486: | ||
1968). | 1968). | ||
A. Statutory Double Patenting — 35 U.S.C. 101 | A.Statutory Double Patenting — 35 U.S.C. 101 | ||
In determining whether a statutory basis for a double | In determining whether a statutory basis for a double | ||
Line 1,076: | Line 1,493: | ||
35 | 35 | ||
U.S.C. 101 prevents two patents from issuing on | U.S.C. 101 prevents two patents from issuing on | ||
the same invention. | the same invention. “Same invention” means identical | ||
subject matter. Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 | subject matter. Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 | ||
(1984); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 | (1984); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 | ||
Line 1,101: | Line 1,518: | ||
define the same invention. Thus, a claim reciting a | define the same invention. Thus, a claim reciting a | ||
widget having a length of “36 inches” defines the | widget having a length of “36 inches” defines the | ||
same invention as a claim reciting the same widget | same invention as a claim reciting the same widget | ||
having a length of “3 feet.” | having a length of “3 feet.” | ||
Line 1,109: | Line 1,532: | ||
absence of a terminal disclaimer. Id. | absence of a terminal disclaimer. Id. | ||
Form paragraphs 8.30 and 8.31 (between an issued | |||
an | patent and one or more applications) or 8.32 (provisional | ||
rejections) may be used to make statutory double | |||
patenting rejections. | |||
¶ 8.30 35 U.S.C. 101, Statutory Basis for Double Patenting | |||
“Heading” Only | |||
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” | |||
type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which | |||
states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... | |||
may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, | |||
the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention | |||
drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., | |||
151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 | |||
(CCPA 1970); and In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 | |||
(CCPA 1957). | |||
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can | |||
be overcome by canceling or amending the conflicting claims so | |||
they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal | |||
disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based | |||
upon 35 U.S.C. 101. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
The above form paragraph must be used as a heading for all | |||
subsequent double patenting rejections of the statutory (same | |||
invention) type using either of form paragraphs 8.31 or 8.32. | |||
¶ 8.31 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 101, Double Patenting | |||
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same | |||
invention as that of claim [2] of prior U.S. Patent No. [3]. This is a | |||
double patenting rejection. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph | |||
8.30 and is used only for double patenting rejections of the same | |||
invention claimed in an earlier patent; that is, the “scope” of the | |||
inventions claimed is identical. | |||
2.If the conflicting claims are in another copending application, | |||
do not use this form paragraph. A provisional double patenting | |||
rejection should be made using form paragraph 8.32. | |||
3.Do not use this form paragraph for nonstatutory-type double | |||
patenting rejections. If nonstatutory type, use appropriate form | |||
paragraphs 8.33 to 8.39. | |||
4.This form paragraph may be used where the conflicting | |||
patent and the pending application are: | |||
(a)by the same inventive entity, or | |||
(b)by a different inventive entity and are commonly assigned | |||
even though there is no common inventor, or | |||
(c)not commonly assigned but have at least one common inventor, | |||
or | |||
(d) made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of | |||
a joint research agreement. | |||
5.In bracket 3, insert the number of the conflicting patent. | |||
( | 6.If the patent is to a different inventive entity and is commonly | ||
and | assigned with the application, form paragraph 8.27 should | ||
additionally be used to require the assignee to name the first | |||
inventor. | |||
7.If evidence is of record to indicate that the patent is prior art | |||
under either 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g), a rejection should also be | |||
made using form paragraphs 7.15 and/or 7.19 in addition to this | |||
double patenting rejection. | |||
8.If the patent is to a different inventive entity from the application | |||
and the effective U.S. filing date of the patent antedates the | |||
effective filing date of the application, a rejection under 35 U.S.C. | |||
102(e) should additionally be made using form paragraph 7.15.02. | |||
¶ 8.32 Provisional Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 101, Double | |||
Patenting | |||
Claim [1] provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming | |||
the same invention as that of claim [2] of copending Application | |||
No. [3]. This is a provisional double patenting rejection since | |||
the conflicting claims have not in fact been patented. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph | |||
8.30 and is used only for double patenting rejections of the sameinvention claimed in another copending application; that is, the | |||
scope of the claimed inventions is identical. | |||
2.If the conflicting claims are from an issued patent, do not use | |||
this paragraph. See form paragraph 8.31. | |||
3.Do not use this paragraph for nonstatutory-type double patenting | |||
rejections. See form paragraphs 8.33 to 8.39. | |||
4.This form paragraph may be used where the conflicting | |||
claims are in a copending application that is: | |||
( | (a)by the same inventive entity, or | ||
( | (b)by a different inventive entity and is commonly assigned | ||
even though there is no common inventor, or | |||
(c)not commonly assigned but has at least one common inventor, | |||
or | |||
(d)made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a | |||
joint research agreement. | |||
( | 5.Form paragraph 8.28 may be used along with this form paragraph | ||
to resolve any remaining issues relating to priority under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(f) or (g). | |||
6.In bracket 3, insert the number of the conflicting application. | |||
7.A provisional double patenting rejection should also be made | |||
in the conflicting application. | |||
8.If the copending application is by a different inventive entity | |||
and is commonly assigned, form paragraph 8.27 should additionally | |||
be used to require the assignee to name the first inventor. | |||
9.If evidence is also of record to show that either application is | |||
prior art unto the other under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g), a rejection | |||
should also be made in the other application using form paragraphs | |||
7.15 and/or 7.19 in addition to this provisional double patenting | |||
rejection. | |||
( | 10.If the applications do not have the same inventive entity and | ||
effective U.S. filing date, a provisional 102(e) rejection should | |||
in the application | |||
additionally be made in the later-filed application using form | |||
paragraph 7.15.01. | |||
If the | If the “same invention” is not being claimed twice, | ||
an analysis must be made to determine whether a nonstatutory | |||
basis for double patenting exists. | |||
claimed | |||
B.Nonstatutory Double Patenting | |||
( | A rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting | ||
is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in | |||
public policy so as to prevent the unjustified or | |||
improper timewise extension of the right to exclude | |||
granted by a patent. In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, | |||
29 | |||
USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 | |||
F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van | |||
Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); | |||
In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA | |||
1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 | |||
(CCPA 1969); In re White, 405 F.2d 904, 160 USPQ | |||
417 (CCPA 1969); In re Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 | |||
USPQ 210 (CCPA 1968); In re Sarett, 327 F.2d 1005, | |||
140 USPQ 474 (CCPA 1964). | |||
1.Obviousness-Type | |||
A nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting | |||
rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims | |||
are not identical, but at least one examined application | |||
In | claim is not patentably distinct from the reference | ||
claim(s) because the examined application claim is | |||
1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993) ( | either anticipated by, or would have been obvious | ||
over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 | |||
F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re | |||
Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. | |||
1993); and In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1985). In determining whether a nonstatutory | |||
basis exists for a double patenting rejection, the | |||
first question to be asked is — does any claim in the | |||
the | application define an invention that is anticipated by, | ||
or is merely an obvious variation of , an invention | |||
claimed in the patent? If the answer is yes, then an | |||
“obviousness-type” nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejection may be appropriate. Obviousness-type double | |||
patenting requires rejection of an application | |||
claim when the claimed subject matter is not patentably | |||
distinct from the subject matter claimed in a | |||
commonly owned patent, or a non-commonly owned | |||
patent but subject to a joint research agreement as set | |||
forth in 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(2) and (3), when the issuance | |||
of a second patent would provide unjustified | |||
extension of the term of the right to exclude granted | |||
by a patent. See Eli Lilly & Co. v. Barr Labs., Inc., | |||
251 F.3d 955, 58 USPQ2d 1869 (Fed. Cir. 2001); Ex | |||
parte Davis, 56 USPQ2d 1434, 1435-36 (Bd. Pat. | |||
App. & Inter. 2000). | |||
A double patenting rejection of the obviousness- | |||
type, if not based on an anticipation rationale, is | |||
“analogous to [a failure to meet] the nonobviousness | |||
requirement of 35 U.S.C. 103” except that the patent | |||
principally underlying the double patenting rejection | |||
is not considered prior art. In re Braithwaite, 379 F.2d | |||
594, 154 USPQ 29 (CCPA 1967). Therefore, the | |||
analysis employed in an obviousness-type double patenting | |||
rejection parallels the guidelines for analysis of | |||
a 35 U.S.C. 103 obviousness determination. In re | |||
Braat, 937 F.2d 589, 19 USPQ2d 1289 (Fed. Cir. | |||
1991); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1985). | |||
Since the analysis employed in an obviousness-type | |||
double patenting determination parallels the guidelines | |||
for a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection, the factual | |||
inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 | |||
U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for | |||
establishing a background for determining obviousness | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 103 are employed when making | |||
an obvious-type double patenting analysis. These factual | |||
inquiries are summarized as follows: | |||
(A)Determine the scope and content of a patent | |||
claim relative to a claim in the application at issue; | |||
(B)Determine the differences between the scope | |||
and content of the patent claim as determined in (A) | |||
and the claim in the application at issue; | |||
(C)Determine the level of ordinary skill in the | |||
pertinent art; and | |||
(D)Evaluate any objective indicia of nonobviousness. | |||
The conclusion of obviousness-type double patenting | |||
is made in light of these factual determinations. | |||
Any obviousness-type double patenting rejection | |||
should make clear: | |||
(A)The differences between the inventions | |||
defined by the conflicting claims — a claim in the | |||
patent compared to a claim in the application; and | |||
(B)The reasons why a person of ordinary skill in | |||
the art would conclude that the invention defined in | |||
the claim at issue is anticipated by, or would have | |||
been an obvious variation of , the invention defined | |||
in a claim in the patent. | |||
When considering whether the invention defined in | |||
a claim of an application would have been an obvious | |||
variation of the invention defined in the claim of a | |||
patent, the disclosure of the patent may not be used as | |||
prior art. General Foods Corp. v. Studiengesellschaft | |||
Kohle mbH, 972 F.2d 1272, 1279, 23 USPQ2d 1839, | |||
1846 (Fed. Cir. 1992). This does not mean that one is | |||
precluded from all use of the patent disclosure. | |||
The | The specification can be used as a dictionary to | ||
learn the meaning of a term in the patent claim. Toro | |||
Co. v. White Consol. Indus., Inc., 199 F.3d 1295, | |||
1299, 53 USPQ2d 1065, 1067 (Fed. Cir. | |||
1999)(“[W]ords in patent claims are given their ordinary | |||
meaning in the usage of the field of the invention, | |||
unless the text of the patent makes clear that a | |||
the | word was used with a special meaning.”); Renishaw | ||
PLC v. Marposs Societa' per Azioni, 158 F.3d 1243, | |||
1250, 48 USPQ2d 1117, 1122 (Fed. Cir. 1998) | |||
(“Where there are several common meanings for a | |||
claim term, the patent disclosure serves to point away | |||
from the improper meanings and toward the proper | |||
meanings.”). See also MPEP § 2111.01. Further, those | |||
portions of the specification which provide support | |||
for the patent claims may also be examined and considered | |||
when addressing the issue of whether a claim | |||
in the application defines an obvious variation of an | |||
invention claimed in the patent. In re Vogel, 422 F.2d | |||
438, 441-42, 164 | |||
USPQ 619, 622 (CCPA 1970). The | |||
court in Vogel recognized “that it is most difficult, if | |||
not meaningless, to try to say what is or is not an obvious | |||
variation of a claim,” but that one can judge | |||
whether or not the invention claimed in an application | |||
patent | is an obvious variation of an embodiment disclosed in | ||
the | the patent which provides support for the patent | ||
be | claim. According to the court, one must first “determine | ||
how much of the patent disclosure pertains to | |||
the invention claimed in the patent” because only | |||
“[t]his portion of the specification supports the patent | |||
claims and may be considered.” The court pointed out | |||
that “this use of the disclosure is not in contravention | |||
of the cases forbidding its use as prior art, nor is it | |||
applying the patent as a reference under 35 U.S.C. | |||
103, since only the disclosure of the invention | |||
claimed in the patent may be examined.” | |||
(a)One-Way Obviousness | |||
If the application at issue is the later filed application | |||
or both are filed on the same day, only a one-way | |||
determination of obviousness is needed in resolving | |||
F. | the issue of double patenting, i.e., whether the invention | ||
defined in a claim in the application would have | |||
been anticipated by, or an obvious variation of , | |||
the invention defined in a claim in the patent. See, | |||
e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1438, 46 USPQ2d 1226 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1998) (the court applied a one-way test | |||
where both applications were filed the same day). If a | |||
claimed invention in the application would have been | |||
obvious over a claimed invention in the patent, there | |||
would be an unjustified timewise extension of the | |||
patent and an obvious-type double patenting rejection | |||
is proper. Unless a claimed invention in the application | |||
would have been anticipated by, or obvious | |||
over a claimed invention in the patent, no double patenting | |||
rejection of the obvious-type should be made, | |||
the | but this does not necessarily preclude a rejection | ||
does not | based on another type of nonstatutory double patenting | ||
(see MPEP § 804, paragraph II.B.2. below). | |||
Similarly, even if the application at issue is the earlier | |||
filed application, only a one-way determination of | |||
obviousness is needed to support a double patenting | |||
rejection in the absence of a finding: (A) of administrative | |||
delay on the part of the Office causing delay in | |||
filed | prosecution of the earlier filed application; and (B) | ||
( | that applicant could not have filed the conflicting | ||
claims in a single (i.e., the earlier filed) application. | |||
See MPEP § 804, paragraph II.B.1.(b) below. | |||
Form paragraph 8.33 and the appropriate one of | |||
form paragraphs 8.34 - 8.37 may be used to make | |||
nonstatutory rejections of the obvious-type. | |||
the | |||
(b)Two-Way Obviousness | |||
If the patent is the later filed application, the question | |||
of whether the timewise extension of the right to | |||
exclude granted by a patent is justified or unjustified | |||
must be addressed. A two-way test is to be applied | |||
only when the applicant could not have filed the | |||
claims in a single application and there is administrative | |||
delay. In re Berg, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. | |||
1998) (“The two-way exception can only apply when | |||
the applicant could not avoid separate filings, and | |||
even then, only if the PTO controlled the rates of prosecution | |||
to cause the later filed species claims to issue | |||
before the claims for a genus in an earlier application | |||
In | |||
. | |||
. . In Berg’s case, the two applications could have | |||
a | been filed as one, so it is irrelevant to our disposition | ||
who actually controlled the respective rates of prosecution.”). | |||
patent | In the absence of administrative delay, a | ||
one-way test is appropriate. In re Goodman, 11 F.3d | |||
(CCPA | 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (applicant’s | ||
voluntary decision to obtain early issuance of claims | |||
directed to a species and to pursue prosecution of previously | |||
rejected genus claims in a continuation is a | |||
double patenting rejection of claims in a | considered election to postpone by the applicant and | ||
application | not administrative delay). Unless the record clearly | ||
shows administrative delay by the Office and that | |||
applicant could not have avoided filing separate applications, | |||
the examiner may use the one-way obviousness | |||
determination and shift the burden to applicant to | |||
show why a two-way obviousness determination is | |||
required. | |||
When making a two-way obviousness determination | |||
where appropriate, it is necessary to apply the | |||
Graham obviousness analysis twice, once with the | |||
application claims as the claims in issue, and once | |||
with the patent claims as the claims in issue. Where a | |||
two-way obviousness determination is required, an | |||
obvious-type double patenting rejection is appropriate | |||
only where each analysis compels a conclusion that | |||
the invention defined in the claims in issue is an obvious | |||
variation of the invention defined in a claim in the | |||
other application/patent. If either analysis does not | |||
compel a conclusion of obviousness, no double patenting | |||
rejection of the obvious-type is made, but this | |||
does not necessarily preclude a nonstatutory double | |||
patenting rejection based on the fundamental reason | |||
to prevent unjustified timewise extension of the right | |||
to exclude granted by a patent. In re Schneller, | |||
397 | |||
F.2d 350, 158 USPQ 210 (CCPA 1968). | |||
Although a delay in the processing of applications | |||
before the Office that would cause patents to issue in | |||
an order different from the order in which the applications | |||
were filed is a factor to be considered in determining | |||
whether a one-way or two-way obviousness | |||
determination is necessary to support a double patenting | |||
rejection, it may be very difficult to assess | |||
whether an applicant or the administrative process is | |||
primarily responsible for a delay in the issuance of a | |||
patent. On the one hand, it is applicant who presents | |||
claims for examination and pays the issue fee. On the | |||
other hand, the resolution of legitimate differences of | |||
opinion that must be resolved in an appeal process or | |||
the time spent in an interference proceeding can significantly | |||
delay the issuance of a patent. Nevertheless, | |||
the reasons for the delay in issuing a patent have been | |||
considered in assessing the propriety of a double patenting | |||
rejection. Thus, in Pierce v. Allen B. DuMont | |||
Laboratories, Inc., 297 F.2d 323, 131 USPQ 340 (3d. | |||
Cir. 1961), the court found that administrative delay | |||
may justify the extension of patent rights beyond | |||
17 | |||
years but “a considered election to postpone acquisition | |||
of the broader [patent after the issuance of the | |||
later filed application] should not be tolerated.” In | |||
Pierce, the patentee elected to participate in an interference | |||
proceeding [after all claims in the application | |||
had been determined to be patentable] whereby the | |||
issuance of the broader patent was delayed by more | |||
than 7 years after the issuance of the narrower patent. | |||
The court determined that the second issued patent | |||
was invalid on the ground of double patenting. Similarly, | |||
in In re Emert, 124 F.3d 1458, 44 USPQ2d 1149 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1997), the court found that the one-way test | |||
is appropriate where applicants, rather than the Office, | |||
had significant control over the rate of prosecution of | |||
the application at issue. In support of its finding that | |||
the applicants were responsible for delaying prosecution | |||
of the application during the critical period, the | |||
court noted that the applicants had requested and | |||
received numerous time extensions in various filings. | |||
More importantly, the court noted, after initially | |||
receiving an obviousness rejection of all claims, | |||
applicants had waited the maximum period to reply (6 | |||
months), then abandoned the application in favor of a | |||
substantially identical continuation application, then | |||
received another obviousness rejection of all claims, | |||
again waited the maximum period to reply, and then | |||
again abandoned the application in favor of a second | |||
continuation application substantially identical to the | |||
original filing. On the other hand, in General Foods | |||
Corp. v. Studiengesellschaft Kohle mbH, 972 F.2d | |||
1272, 23 USPQ2d 1839 (Fed. Cir. 1992), the court | |||
elected not to hold the patentee accountable for a | |||
delay in issuing the first filed application until after | |||
the second filed application issued as a patent, even | |||
where the patentee had intentionally refiled the first | |||
filed application as a continuation-in-part after receiving | |||
a Notice of Allowance indicating that all claims | |||
presented were patentable. Similarly, where, through | |||
no fault of the applicant, the claims in a later | |||
filed | |||
application issue first, an obvious-type double | |||
patenting rejection is improper, in the absence of a | |||
two-way obviousness determination, because the | |||
applicant does not have complete control over the rate | |||
of progress of a patent application through the Office. | |||
In re Braat, 937 F.2d 589, 19 USPQ2d 1289 (Fed. Cir. | |||
1991). While acknowledging that allowance of the | |||
claims in the earlier filed application would result in | |||
the timewise extension of an invention claimed in the | |||
and ( | patent, the court was of the view that the extension | ||
was justified under the circumstances in this case, | |||
claims | indicating that a double patenting rejection would be | ||
proper only if the claimed inventions were obvious | |||
over each other — a two-way obviousness determination. | |||
Form paragraph 8.33 and the appropriate one of | |||
form paragraphs 8.34-8.37 may be used to make nonstatutory | |||
rejections of the obvious type. | |||
¶ 8.33 Basis for Nonstatutory Double Patenting, | |||
“Heading” Only | |||
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially | |||
created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy | |||
reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper | |||
timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent | |||
and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory | |||
obviousness-type double patenting rejection is appropriate | |||
where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one | |||
examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference | |||
claim(s) because the examined application claim is either | |||
anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference | |||
claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. | |||
Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA | |||
1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); | |||
and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA | |||
1969). | |||
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR | |||
1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional | |||
rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground | |||
provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be | |||
commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention | |||
made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint | |||
research agreement. | |||
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of | |||
record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer | |||
signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b). | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
patenting rejection | This form paragraph is to be used as a heading before a nonstatutory | ||
of | double patenting rejection using any of form paragraphs | ||
8.34 - 8.39. | |||
¶ 8.34 Rejection, Obviousness Type Double Patenting - No | |||
Secondary Reference(s) | |||
Claim [1] rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness- | |||
type double patenting as being unpatentable over claim [2] of U.S. | |||
Patent No. [3]. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, | |||
they are not patentably distinct from each other because [4]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is used for obviousness-type double patenting | |||
rejections based upon a patent. | |||
2.If the obviousness-type double patenting rejection is based | |||
upon another application, do not use this form paragraph. A provisional | |||
double patenting rejection should be made using form paragraph | |||
8.33 and either form paragraph 8.35 or 8.37. | |||
application | |||
3.This form paragraph may be used where the conflicting | |||
invention is claimed in a patent which is: | |||
(a)by the same inventive entity, or | |||
(b)by a different inventive entity and is commonly assigned | |||
even though there is no common inventor, or | |||
(c)not commonly assigned but has at least one inventor in common, | |||
or | |||
(d)made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a | |||
joint research agreement. | |||
4.Form paragraph 8.33 must precede any one of form paragraphs | |||
8.34 to 8.39 and must be used only ONCE in an Office | |||
action. | |||
5.In bracket 3, insert the number of the patent. | |||
(C) | 6.If evidence indicates that the conflicting patent is prior art | ||
under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g), a rejection should additionally be | |||
made under 102(f)/103(a) or 102(g)/103(a) using form paragraph | |||
7.21, unless the patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as | |||
prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
a | |||
7.If the patent is to a different inventive entity and has an earlier | |||
effective U.S. filing date, a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/ | |||
103(a) may be made using form paragraph 7.21.02. For applications | |||
pending on or after December 10, 2004, rejections under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) should not be made or maintained if the | |||
patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
¶ 8.35 Provisional Rejection, Obviousness Type Double | |||
Patenting - No Secondary Reference(s) | |||
Claim [1] provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory | |||
obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over | |||
claim [2] of copending Application No. [3]. Although the conflicting | |||
claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from | |||
each other because [4]. | |||
This is a provisional obviousness-type double patenting rejection | |||
because the conflicting claims have not in fact been patented. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph should be used when the conflicting | |||
claims are in another copending application. | |||
2.If the conflicting claims are in a patent, do not use this form | |||
paragraph. Use form paragraphs 8.33 and 8.34. | |||
3.This form paragraph may be used where the conflicting | |||
claims are in a copending application that is: | |||
( | (a)by the same inventive entity, or | ||
or | |||
(b) commonly assigned even though there is no common inventor, | |||
or | |||
(c)not commonly assigned but has at least one common inventor, | |||
or | |||
(d)made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a | |||
joint research agreement. | |||
4.Form paragraph 8.33 must precede any one of form paragraphs | |||
8.34 to 8.39 and must be used only ONCE in an Office | |||
action. | |||
5.If the conflicting application is currently commonly assigned | |||
but the file does not establish that the conflicting inventions were | |||
commonly owned at the time the later invention was made, form | |||
paragraph 8.28 may be used in addition to this form paragraph to | |||
also resolve any issues relating to priority under 102(f) and/or (g). | |||
6.In bracket 3, insert the number of the conflicting application. | |||
A | 7.A provisional obviousness-type double patenting rejection | ||
patenting | should also be made in the conflicting application. | ||
8.If evidence shows that either application is prior art unto the | |||
other under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and the copending application | |||
has not been disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a | |||
103(a) rejection, a rejection should additionally be made in the | |||
other application under 35 U.S.C. 102(f)/103(a) or 102(g)/103(a) | |||
using form paragraph 7.21. | |||
9.If the disclosure of one application may be used to support a | |||
rejection of the other and the applications have different inventive | |||
entities and different U.S. filing dates, use form paragraph 7.21.01to additionally make a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) in | |||
the later filed application. For applications pending on or after | |||
December 10, 2004, rejections under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) | |||
should not be made or maintained if the patent is disqualified | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
10.In bracket 4, provide appropriate rationale for obviousness of | |||
claims being rejected over the claims of the cited application. | |||
¶ 8.36 Rejection, Obviousness Type Double Patenting - | |||
With Secondary Reference(s) | |||
Claim [1] rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness- | |||
type double patenting as being unpatentable over claim [2] of U.S. | |||
Patent No. [3] in view of [4]. [5] | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is used for obviousness-type double patenting | |||
rejections where the primary reference is a conflicting | |||
patent. | |||
2.If the obviousness double patenting rejection is based on | |||
rejection | another application, do not use this form paragraph. A provisional | ||
obviousness-type double patenting rejection should be made using | |||
form paragraphs 8.33 and either 8.35 or 8.37. | |||
3.This form paragraph may be used where the prior invention | |||
is claimed in a patent which is: | |||
(a)by the same inventive entity, or | |||
(b)by a different inventive entity and is commonly assigned | |||
even though there is no common inventor, or | |||
common | |||
(c)not commonly assigned but has at least one common inventor, | |||
or | |||
(d)made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a | |||
joint research agreement. | |||
4.Form paragraph 8.33 must precede any one of form paragraphs | |||
8.34 to 8.39 and must be used only ONCE in an office | |||
action. | |||
5.In bracket 3, insert the number of the conflicting patent. | |||
6.In bracket 4, insert the secondary reference. | |||
7.In bracket 5, insert an explanation of the obviousness-type | |||
rejection. | |||
8.If evidence shows that the conflicting patent is prior art under | |||
35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g), a rejection should additionally be made | |||
be | under 35 U.S.C. 102(f)/103(a) or 102(g)/103(a) using form paragraph | ||
of | 7.21, unless the patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. | ||
103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
9.If the patent issued to a different inventive entity and has an | |||
earlier effective U.S. filing date, a rejection under 35 U.S.C. | |||
102(e)/103(a) may be made using form paragraph 7.21.02. For | |||
applications pending on or after December 10, 2004, rejections | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) should not be made or maintained | |||
if the patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
¶ 8.37 Provisional Rejection, Obviousness Type Double | |||
Patenting - With Secondary Reference(s) | |||
Claim [1] provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory | |||
obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over | |||
claim [2] of copending Application No. [3] in view of [4]. [5] | |||
This is a provisional obviousness-type double patenting rejection. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is used for obviousness-type double patenting | |||
rejections where the primary reference is a conflicting | |||
application. | |||
2.If the conflicting claims are in a patent, do not use this form | |||
paragraph, use form paragraph 8.36. | |||
3.This form paragraph may be used where the conflicting | |||
claims are in a copending application that is: | |||
(a)by the same inventive entity, or | |||
(b)commonly assigned even though there is no common inventor, | |||
or | |||
(c)not commonly assigned but has at least one common inventor, | |||
or | |||
(d)made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a | |||
joint research agreement. | |||
of the | |||
4.Form paragraph 8.33 must precede any one of form paragraphs | |||
8.34 to 8.39 and must be used only ONCE in an office | |||
action. | |||
5.If the conflicting cases are currently commonly assigned but | |||
the file does not establish that the conflicting inventions were | |||
commonly owned at the time the later invention was made, form | |||
paragraph 8.28 may be used in addition to this form paragraph to | |||
also resolve any issues relating to priority under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) | |||
and/or (g). | |||
6.In bracket 3, insert the number of the conflicting application. | |||
7.In bracket 4, insert the secondary reference. | |||
8.In bracket 5, insert an explanation of the obviousness-type | |||
rejection. | |||
9.A provisional obviousness-type double patenting rejection | |||
should also be made in the conflicting application. | |||
10.If evidence shows that either application is prior art unto the | |||
other under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and the copending application | |||
has not been disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a | |||
35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection, a rejection should additionally be | |||
made under 35 U.S.C. 102(f)/103(a) or 102(g)/103(a) using form | |||
paragraph 7.21. | |||
11.If the disclosure of one application may be used to support a | |||
rejection of the other and the applications have different inventive | |||
entities and different U.S. filing dates, use form paragraph 7.21.01to additionally make a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) in | |||
the application with the later effective U.S. filing date. For applications | |||
pending on or after December 10, 2004, rejections under | |||
35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) should not be made or maintained if the | |||
patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
not | |||
the | |||
2.Another Type of Nonstatutory Double | |||
Patenting Rejection | |||
There are some unique circumstances where it has | |||
been recognized that another type of nonstatutory | |||
double patenting rejection is applicable even where | |||
the inventions claimed in two or more applications/ | |||
patents are considered nonobvious over each other. | |||
These circumstances are illustrated by the facts before | |||
the court in In re Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 USPQ | |||
210 (CCPA 1968). In affirming the double patenting | |||
rejection, the court summed up the situation: | |||
the | |||
(1) | in appellant’s own terms: The combination ABC was old. | ||
and | He made two improvements on it, (1) adding X and (2) | ||
adding Y, the result still being a unitary clip of enhanced | |||
utility. While his invention can be practiced in the forms | |||
ABCX or ABCY, the greatest advantage and best mode of | |||
practicing the invention as disclosed is obtained by using | |||
both inventions in the combination ABCXY. His first | |||
application disclosed ABCXY and other matters. He | |||
obtained a patent claiming [a clip comprising] BCX and | |||
ABCX, . . . so claiming these combinations as to cover | |||
them no matter what other feature is incorporated in | |||
them, thus covering effectively ABCXY. He now, many | |||
years later, seeks more claims directed to ABCY and | |||
ABCXY. Thus, protection he already had would be | |||
extended, albeit in somewhat different form, for several | |||
years beyond the expiration of his patent, were we to | |||
reverse. | |||
( | 397 F.2d at 355-56, 158 USPQ at 216 (emphasis in | ||
original). | |||
The court recognized that “there is no double patenting | |||
in the sense of claiming the same invention | |||
because ABCX and ABCY are, in the technical patent | |||
law sense, different inventions. The rule against ‘double | |||
patenting,’ however, is not so circumscribed. The | |||
fundamental reason for the rule is to prevent unjustified | |||
timewise extension of the right to exclude granted | |||
by a patent no matter how the extension is brought | |||
about. To . . . prevail here, appellant has the burden of | |||
establishing that the invention claimed in his patent is | |||
‘independent and distinct’ from the invention of the | |||
appealed claims…appellant has clearly not established | |||
the independent and distinct character of the | |||
inventions of the appealed claims.” 397 F.2d at 354- | |||
55, 158 USPQ at 214-15 (emphasis in original). The | |||
court observed: | |||
The controlling fact is that patent protection for the | |||
clips, fully disclosed in and covered by the claims of the | |||
patent, would be extended by allowance of the appealed | |||
claims. Under the circumstance of the instant case, | |||
wherein we find no valid excuse or mitigating circumstances | |||
making it either reasonable or equitable to make | |||
an exception, and wherein there is no terminal disclaimer, | |||
the rule against “double patenting” must be applied. | |||
397 F.2d at 355, 158 USPQ at 215. | |||
USPQ | |||
The decision in In re Schneller did not establish a | |||
rule of general application and thus is limited to the | |||
particular set of facts set forth in that decision. The | |||
court in Schneller cautioned “against the tendency to | |||
freeze into rules of general application what, at best, | |||
are statements applicable to particular fact situations.” | |||
Schneller, 397 F.2d at 355, 158 USPQ at 215. Nonstatutory | |||
double patenting rejections based on | |||
Schneller will be rare. The Technology Center (TC) | |||
Director must approve any nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejections based on Schneller. If an examiner | |||
determines that a double patenting rejection based on | |||
Schneller is appropriate in his or her application, the | |||
examiner should first consult with his or her supervisory | |||
patent examiner (SPE). If the SPE agrees with | |||
the examiner then approval of the TC Director must | |||
be obtained before such a nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejection can be made. | |||
A fact situation similar to that in Schneller was presented | |||
to a Federal Circuit panel in In re Kaplan, | |||
789 | |||
F.2d 1574, 229 USPQ 678 (Fed. Cir. 1986). | |||
Kaplan had been issued a patent on a process of making | |||
chemicals in the presence of an organic solvent. | |||
Among the organic solvents disclosed and claimed as | |||
being useful were tetraglyme and sulfolane. One | |||
unclaimed example in the patent was specifically | |||
directed to a mixture of these two solvents. The | |||
claims in the application to Kaplan and Walker, the | |||
application before the Office, were directed to essentially | |||
the same chemical process, but requiring the use | |||
of the solvent mixture of tetraglyme and sulfolane. In | |||
reversing the double patenting rejection, the court | |||
stated that the mere fact that the broad process claim | |||
of the patent requiring an organic solvent reads on or | |||
“dominates” the narrower claim directed to basically | |||
the same process using a specific solvent mixture | |||
does not, per se, justify a double patenting rejection. | |||
the | The court also pointed out that the double patenting | ||
rejection improperly used the disclosure of the joint | |||
invention (solvent mixture) in the Kaplan patent specification | |||
as though it were prior art. | |||
A significant factor in the Kaplan case was that the | |||
broad invention was invented by Kaplan, and the narrow | |||
invention (i.e., using a specific combination of | |||
( | solvents) was invented by Kaplan and Walker. Since | ||
these applications (as the applications in Braat) were | |||
the | filed before the Patent Law Amendments Act of 1984 | ||
( | (Pub. Law 98-622, November 8, 1984) amending 35 | ||
U.S.C. 116 to expressly authorize filing a patent application | |||
in the names of joint inventors who did not | |||
necessarily make a contribution to the invention | |||
defined in each claim in the patent, it was necessary to | |||
in | file multiple applications to claim both the broad and | ||
narrow inventions. Accordingly, there was a valid reason, | |||
driven by statute, why the claims to the specific | |||
solvent mixture were not presented for examination in | |||
the Kaplan patent application. | |||
Each double patenting situation must be decided on | |||
its own facts. | |||
Form paragraph 8.33 and the appropriate one of | |||
form paragraphs 8.38 (between an issued patent and | |||
one or more applications) and 8.39 (provisional rejections) | |||
may be used to make this type of nonstatutory | |||
double patenting rejection. | |||
¶ 8.38 Double Patenting - Nonstatutory (Based Solely on | |||
Improper Timewise Extension of Patent Rights) With a | |||
Patent | |||
Claim [1] rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting | |||
over claim [2] of U.S. Patent No. [3] since the claims, if | |||
allowed, would improperly extend the “right to exclude” already | |||
granted in the patent. | |||
The subject matter claimed in the instant application is fully | |||
disclosed in the patent and is covered by the patent since the | |||
subject | patent and the application are claiming common subject matter, as | ||
follows: [4] | |||
Furthermore, there is no apparent reason why applicant was | |||
a | prevented from presenting claims corresponding to those of the | ||
instant application during prosecution of the application which | |||
matured into a patent. See In re Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 | |||
USPQ 210 (CCPA 1968). See also MPEP § 804. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph should only be used where approval | |||
from the TC Director to make a nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejection based on In re Schneller has been obtained. | |||
2.Use this form paragraph only when the subject matter of the | |||
U.S. | claim(s) is fully disclosed in, and covered by at least one claim of, | ||
an issued U.S. Patent which is commonly owned or where there is | |||
in | common inventorship (one or more inventors in common). | ||
3.In bracket 3, insert the number of the patent. | |||
4.In bracket 4, insert a description of the subject matter being | |||
claimed which is covered in the patent. | |||
5.Form paragraph 8.33 must precede any one of form paragraphs | |||
8.34 to 8.39 and must be used only ONCE in an Office | |||
action. | |||
( | 6.If evidence indicates that the conflicting patent is prior art | ||
under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g), a rejection should additionally be | |||
made under 35 U.S.C. 102(f)/103(a) or 102(g)/103(a) using form | |||
paragraph 7.21, unless the patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
C. | 7.If the patent is to another inventive entity and has an earlier | ||
U.S. filing date, a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) may be | |||
made using form paragraph 7.21.02. For applications pending on | |||
or after December 10, 2004, rejections under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/ | |||
103(a) should not be made or maintained if the patent is disqualified | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) | |||
rejection. | |||
¶ 8.39 Double Patenting - Nonstatutory (Based Solely on | |||
Improper Timewise Extension of Patent Rights) With | |||
Another Application | |||
Claim [1] provisionally rejected on the ground of nonstatutory | |||
double patenting over claim [2] of copending Application No. [3]. | |||
This is a provisional double patenting rejection because the conflicting | |||
claims have not in fact been patented. | |||
The subject matter claimed in the instant application is fully | |||
disclosed in the referenced copending application and would be | |||
covered by any patent granted on that copending application since | |||
the referenced copending application and the instant application | |||
are claiming common subject matter, as follows: [4] | |||
Furthermore, there is no apparent reason why applicant would | |||
be prevented from presenting claims corresponding to those of the | |||
instant application in the other copending application. See In re | |||
Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 USPQ 210 (CCPA 1968). See also | |||
MPEP § 804. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph should only be used where approval | |||
from the TC Director to make a nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejection based on In re Schneller has been obtained. | |||
2.Use this form paragraph only when the subject matter of the | |||
claim(s) is fully disclosed in, and covered by at least one claim of, | |||
another copending application which is commonly owned or | |||
where there is common inventorship (one or more inventors in | |||
common). | |||
3.In bracket 3, insert the number of the conflicting application. | |||
4.In bracket 4, insert a description of the subject matter being | |||
claimed which is covered in the copending application. | |||
of | |||
5.Form paragraph 8.33 must precede any one of form paragraphs | |||
8.34 to 8.39 and must be used only ONCE in an office | |||
action. | |||
6..If the conflicting application is currently commonly assigned | |||
but the file does not establish that the conflicting inventions were | |||
commonly owned at the time the later invention was made, form | |||
paragraph 8.28 may be used in addition to this form paragraph to | |||
also resolve any issues relating to priority under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) | |||
and/or (g). | |||
7.A provisional double patenting rejection should also be made | |||
in the conflicting application. | |||
8.If evidence shows that either application is prior art unto the | |||
other under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and the copending application | |||
has not been disqualified (as prior art in a 103 rejection based on | |||
common ownership), a rejection should additionally be made in | |||
the other application under 35 U.S.C. 102(f)/103(a) or 102(g)/ | |||
103(a) using form paragraph 7.21, unless the patent is disqualified | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
9.If the disclosure of one application may be used to support a | |||
rejection of the other and the applications have different inventive | |||
entities and different U.S. filing dates, use form paragraph 7.21.01to additionally make a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) in | |||
the application with the later effective U.S. filing date. For applications | |||
pending on or after December 10, 2004, rejections under | |||
35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) should not be made or maintained if the | |||
patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
3.Design/Plant — Utility Situations | |||
Double patenting issues may be raised where an | |||
applicant has filed both a utility patent application (35 | |||
U.S.C. 111) and either an application for a plant | |||
U.S.C. | patent (35 U.S.C. 161) or an application for a design | ||
patent (35 U.S.C. 171). In general, the same double | |||
patenting principles and criteria that are applied in | |||
utility-utility situations are applied to utility-plant or | |||
utility-design situations. Double patenting rejections | |||
in utility-plant situations may be made in appropriate | |||
U.S.C. | circumstances. | ||
the | |||
Although double patenting is rare in the context of | |||
utility versus design patents, a double patenting rejection | |||
of a pending design or utility application can be | |||
made on the basis of a previously issued utility or | |||
design patent, respectively. Carman Indus. Inc. v. | |||
Wahl, 724 F.2d 932, 220 USPQ 481 (Fed. Cir. 1983). | |||
The rejection is based on the public policy preventing | |||
the extension of the term of a patent. Double patenting | |||
may be found in a design-utility situation irrespective | |||
of whether the claims in the patent relied on in the | |||
rejection and the claims in issue involve the same | |||
invention, or whether they involve inventions which | |||
are obvious variations of one another. In re Thorington, | |||
418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). | |||
In Carman Indus., the court held that no double | |||
patenting existed between a design and utility patent | |||
since the claims in the utility patent, drawn to the interior | |||
construction of a flow promoter, were not directed | |||
to the same invention or an obvious variation of the | |||
invention claimed in a design patent directed to the | |||
visible external surface configuration of a storage bin | |||
flow promoter. The majority opinion in this decision | |||
appears to indicate that a two-way obviousness determination | |||
is necessary in design-utility cases. 724 F.2d | |||
at 940-41, 220 USPQ at 487-88. But see Carman | |||
Indus. (J. Nies, concurring). | |||
In | In Thorington, the court affirmed a double patenting | ||
rejection of claims for a fluorescent light bulb in a | |||
patenting | utility patent application in view of a previously | ||
issued design patent for the same bulb. In another | |||
case, a double patenting rejection of utility claims for | |||
a finger ring was affirmed in view of an earlier issued | |||
the | design patent, where the drawing in both the design | ||
patent and the utility application illustrated the same | |||
article. In re Phelan, 205 F.2d 183, 98 USPQ 156 | |||
(CCPA 1953). A double patenting rejection of a | |||
design claim for a flashlight cap and hanger ring was | |||
affirmed over an earlier issued utility patent. In re | |||
Barber, 81 F.2d 231, 28 USPQ 187 (CCPA 1936). A | |||
double patenting rejection of claims in a utility patent | |||
application directed to a balloon tire construction was | |||
affirmed over an earlier issued design patent. In re | |||
Hargraves, 53 F.2d 900, 11 USPQ 240 (CCPA 1931). | |||
III.CONTRAST BETWEEN DOUBLE PATENTING | |||
REJECTION AND REJECTIONS | |||
BASED ON PRIOR ART | |||
35 U.S.C. | Rejections over a patent or another copending | ||
application based on double patenting or 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(a) are similar in the sense that both require comparison | |||
of the claimed subject matter with at least part | |||
of the content of another patent or application, and | |||
both may require that an obviousness analysis be | |||
made. However, there are significant differences | |||
between a rejection based on double patenting and | |||
one based on 35 U.S.C. 102(e) prior art under | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(a). In re Bartfeld, 925 F.2d 1450, | |||
17 | |||
USPQ2d 1885 (Fed. Cir. 1991). | |||
( | One significant difference is that a double patenting | ||
rejection must rely on a comparison with the claims in | |||
an issued or to be issued patent, whereas an anticipation | |||
or obviousness rejection based on the same | |||
patent under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) relies on a comparison | |||
with what is disclosed (whether or not | |||
claimed) in the same issued or to be issued patent. In a | |||
35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) rejection over a prior art | |||
patent, the reference patent is available for all that it | |||
fairly discloses to one of ordinary skill in the art, | |||
regardless of what is claimed. In re Bowers, 359 F.2d | |||
886, 149 USPQ 570 (CCPA 1966). | |||
( | A second significant difference is that a terminal | ||
disclaimer cannot be used to obviate a rejection based | |||
on 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) prior art. In re Fong, | |||
378 | |||
F.2d 977, 154 USPQ 25 (CCPA 1967). The purpose | |||
of a terminal disclaimer is to obviate a double | |||
patenting rejection by removing the potential harm to | |||
the public by issuing a second patent, and not to | |||
remove a patent as prior art. | |||
For applications filed on or after November 29, | |||
1999 and for applications pending on or after December | |||
10, 2004, a commonly assigned/owned patent or | |||
application may be disqualified as 35 U.S.C. 102(e) | |||
prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. See | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c)(1). As an alternative to invoking the | |||
prior art exclusion under 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(1), the | |||
assignee can take some preemptive measures to avoid | |||
having a commonly assigned/owned copending application | |||
become prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e). The | |||
applications can be filed on the same day, or copending | |||
applications can be merged into a single continuation- | |||
in-part application and the parent applications | |||
abandoned. If these steps are undesirable or the first | |||
patent has issued, the prior art effect of the first patent | |||
may be avoided by a showing under 37 | |||
CFR 1.132that any unclaimed invention disclosed in the first | |||
patent was derived from the inventor of the application | |||
before the examiner in which the 35 | |||
U.S.C. | |||
102(e)/103(a) rejection was made. In re Katz, 687 | |||
F.2d 450, 215 USPQ 14 (CCPA 1982). See also | |||
MPEP § 716.10. It may also be possible for applicant | |||
to respond to a 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) rejection by | |||
showing, under 37 CFR 1.131, that the date of invention | |||
of the claimed subject matter was prior to the | |||
effective filing date of the reference patent which has | |||
been relied upon for its unclaimed disclosure. See | |||
MPEP § 715. See also 37 | |||
CFR 1.130 and MPEP § 718for affidavits or declarations to disqualify a commonly | |||
owned patent as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 103. | |||
See MPEP § | For applications pending on or after December 10, | ||
inventions. | 2004, and for reexamination proceedings in which the | ||
patent under reexamination was granted on or after | |||
December 10, 2004, a patent or application may be | |||
disqualified as 35 U.S.C. 102(e) prior art in a | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(a) rejection if evidence of a joint | |||
research agreement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(2) | |||
and (3) is made of record in the application (or patent) | |||
being examined (or reexamined), and the conflicting | |||
claims resulted from a joint research agreement that | |||
was in effect on or before the date the later claimed | |||
invention was made. | |||
An examiner should make both a 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/ | |||
103 rejection and a double patenting rejection over | |||
the same reference when the facts support both rejections. | |||
Note that even if an earlier patent or application | |||
to another is disqualified as prior art in a 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(a) rejection based on common ownership | |||
or a joint research agreement as discussed above, that | |||
patent or application is available as prior art under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e) and may form the basis of an anticipation | |||
rejection. If the examiner makes only one of | |||
these rejections when each is separately applicable, | |||
and if the next office action includes the previously | |||
omitted rejection, then the next Office | |||
action cannot be made final. A prior art reference | |||
that anticipates or renders claimed subject matter | |||
obvious under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) does not create | |||
a double patenting situation where that subject | |||
matter is not claimed in the reference patent. For | |||
applications pending on or after December 10, 2004, | |||
rejections under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) should not | |||
be made or maintained if the reference is disqualified | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(a) rejection. See MPEP § | |||
706.02(l)(1) for information | |||
regarding when prior art is disqualified under | |||
35 U.S.C. 103(c) based on common ownership or | |||
claimed inventions made as a result of activities | |||
undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. | |||
Until applicant establishes the existence of a joint | |||
research agreement, the examiner cannot apply a double | |||
patenting rejection based on the possible existence | |||
of such an agreement. If in reply to an Office action | |||
applying a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103, | |||
applicant disqualifies the relied upon reference under | |||
the joint research agreement provision of 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(c) and a subsequent double patenting rejection | |||
based upon the disqualified reference is applied, the | |||
next Office action may be made final even if applicant | |||
did not amend the claims (provided the examiner | |||
introduces no other new ground of rejection that was | |||
not necessitated by either amendment or an information | |||
disclosure statement filed during the time period | |||
set forth in 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the fee set forth in 37 | |||
CFR 1.17(p)). The Office action is properly made | |||
final because the new double patenting rejection was | |||
necessitated by the applicant’s amendment of the | |||
application. | |||
804.01Prohibition of Double PatentingRejections Under 35 U.S.C. 121 | |||
[R-3] | |||
35 U.S.C. 121 authorizes the Director to restrict | |||
the claims in a patent application to a single invention | |||
when independent and distinct inventions are presented | |||
for examination. The third sentence of 35 | |||
U.S.C. 121 prohibits the use of a patent issuing on an | |||
application with respect to which a requirement for | |||
restriction has been made, or on an application filed as | |||
a result of such a requirement, as a reference against | |||
any divisional application, if the divisional application | |||
is filed before the issuance of the patent. The | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 121 prohibition applies only where the | |||
Office has made a requirement for restriction. The | |||
prohibition does not apply where the divisional application | |||
was voluntarily filed by the applicant and not | |||
in response to an Office requirement for restriction. | |||
This apparent nullification of double patenting as a | |||
ground of rejection or invalidity in such cases | |||
imposes a heavy burden on the Office to guard against | |||
erroneous requirements for restrictions where the | |||
claims define essentially the same invention in different | |||
language and which, if acquiesced in, might result | |||
in the issuance of several patents for the same invention. | |||
The prohibition against holdings of double patenting | |||
applies to requirements for restriction between the | |||
related subjects treated in MPEP § 806.04 through | |||
§ | |||
§ | 806.05(j), namely, between combination and | ||
subcombination thereof, between subcombinations | |||
disclosed as usable together, between process and | |||
apparatus for its practice, between process and product | |||
made by such process and between apparatus and | |||
product made by such apparatus, etc., so long as the | |||
claims in each application are filed as a result of such | |||
requirement. | |||
The following are situations where the prohibition | |||
against double patenting rejections under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 121 does not apply: | |||
(A)The applicant voluntarily files two or more | |||
applications without a restriction requirement by the | |||
examiner. 35 U.S.C. 121 requires claims of a divisional | |||
application to have been formally entered, | |||
restricted, and removed from an earlier application in | |||
order to obtain the benefit of 35 U.S.C. 121. Geneva | |||
Pharms. Inc. v. GlaxoSmithKline PLC, 349 F.3d 1373, | |||
1379, 68 USPQ2d 1865, 1870 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (For | |||
claims in a divisional application that were not in the | |||
original application, 35 U.S.C. 121 “does not suggest | |||
in | that the original application merely needs to provide | ||
some support for claims that are first entered formally | |||
in the later divisional application.” Id.); In re | |||
Schneller, 397 F.2d 350, 158 USPQ 210 (CCPA | |||
1968). | |||
(B)The claims of the different applications or | |||
patents are not consonant with the restriction requirement | |||
made by the examiner, since the claims have | |||
been changed in material respects from the claims at | |||
the time the requirement was made. For example, the | |||
divisional application filed includes additional claims | |||
not consonant in scope to the original claims subject | |||
to restriction in the parent. Symbol Technologies, Inc. | |||
v. Opticon, Inc., 935 F.2d 1569, 19 USPQ2d 1241 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1991) and Gerber Garment Technology, | |||
Inc. v. Lectra Systems, Inc., 916 F.2d 683, 16 USPQ2d | |||
1436 (Fed. Cir. 1990). In order for consonance to | |||
exist, the line of demarcation between the independent | |||
and distinct inventions identified by the examiner | |||
in the requirement for restriction must be | |||
maintained. 916 F.2d at 688, 16 USPQ2d at 1440. | |||
(C)The restriction requirement was written in a | |||
manner which made it clear to applicant that the | |||
requirement was made subject to the nonallowance of | |||
generic or other linking claims and such generic or | |||
linking claims are subsequently allowed. Therefore, if | |||
or | a generic or linking claim is subsequently allowed, the | ||
restriction requirement must be withdrawn. | |||
(D)The requirement for restriction (holding of | |||
lack of unity of invention) was only made in an international | |||
application by the International Searching | |||
Authority or the International Preliminary Examining | |||
Authority. | |||
(E)The requirement for restriction was withdrawn | |||
for restriction | by the examiner before the patent issues. In re | ||
Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 170 USPQ 129 (CCPA 1971). | |||
Note that a restriction requirement in an earlier-filed | |||
application does not carry over to claims of a continuation | |||
application in which the examiner does not reinstate | |||
or refer to the restriction requirement in the | |||
parent application. Reliance on a patent issued from | |||
such a continuation application to reject claims in a | |||
later-filed divisional application is not prohibited | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 121. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. v. | |||
Pharmachemie BV, 361 F.3d 1343, 1348, 70 USPQ2d | |||
1097, 1100 (Fed. Cir. 2004). | |||
(F)The claims of the second application are | |||
drawn to the “same invention” as the first application | |||
or patent. Studiengesellschaft Kohle mbH v. Northern | |||
Petrochemical Co., 784 F.2d 351, 228 USPQ 837 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1986). | |||
Where | (G)Where a requirement for restriction between a | ||
product, a process of making the product, and a process | |||
of using the product was made subject to the non- | |||
allowance of the product and the product is subsequently | |||
allowed. In this situation the restriction | |||
requirement must be withdrawn. | |||
While the situation should not arise where appropriate | |||
care is exercised in defining the independent | |||
and distinct inventions in a restriction requirement, | |||
the issue might arise as to whether 35 U.S.C. 121 prevents | |||
the use of a double patenting rejection when the | |||
identical invention is claimed in both the patent and | |||
the pending application. Under these circumstances, | |||
application | the Office will make the double patenting rejection | ||
because the patentee is entitled only to a single patent | |||
for an invention. As expressed in Studiengesellschaft | |||
Kohle, 784 F.2d at 361, 228 USPQ at 844, (J. Newman, | |||
concurring), “35 U.S.C. 121 of course does not | |||
provide that multiple patents may be granted on the | |||
identical invention.” | |||
804.02Avoiding a Double Patenting | |||
Rejection [R-3] | |||
I.STATUTORY | |||
A rejection based on the statutory type of double | |||
patenting can be avoided by amending the conflicting | |||
in | claims so that they are not coextensive in scope. | ||
Where the conflicting claims are in one or more pending | |||
applications and a patent, a rejection based on | |||
statutory type double patenting can also be avoided by | |||
canceling the conflicting claims in all the pending | |||
applications. Where the conflicting claims are in two | |||
or more pending applications, a provisional rejection | |||
based on statutory type double patenting can also be | |||
avoided by canceling the conflicting claims in all but | |||
one of the pending applications. A terminal disclaimer | |||
is not effective in overcoming a statutory double patenting | |||
rejection. | |||
The use of a 37 CFR 1.131 affidavit in overcoming | |||
a statutory double patenting rejection is inappropriate. | |||
In re Dunn, 349 F.2d 433, 146 USPQ 479 (CCPA | |||
1965). Knell v. Muller, 174 USPQ 460 (Comm’r. Pat. | |||
1971), citing the CCPA decisions in In re Ward, 236 | |||
F.2d 428, 111 USPQ 101 (CCPA 1956); In re Teague, | |||
254 F.2d 145, 117 USPQ 284 (CCPA 1958); and In re | |||
Hidy, 303 F.2d 954, 133 USPQ 650 (CCPA 1962). | |||
II.NONSTATUTORY | |||
A rejection based on a nonstatutory type of double | |||
patenting can be avoided by filing a terminal disclaimer | |||
in the application or proceeding in which the | |||
rejection is made. In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, | |||
164 | |||
USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Knohl, 386 F.2d | |||
476, 155 USPQ 586 (CCPA 1967); and In re Griswold, | |||
365 F.2d 834, 150 USPQ 804 (CCPA 1966). | |||
The use of a terminal disclaimer in overcoming a nonstatutory | |||
double patenting rejection is in the public | |||
interest because it encourages the disclosure of additional | |||
developments, the earlier filing of applications, | |||
and the earlier expiration of patents whereby the | |||
inventions covered become freely available to the | |||
public. In re Jentoft, 392 F.2d 633, 157 USPQ 363 | |||
(CCPA 1968); In re Eckel, 393 F.2d 848, 157 USPQ | |||
415 (CCPA 1968); and In re Braithwaite, 379 F.2d | |||
594, 154 USPQ 29 (CCPA 1967). | |||
( | The use of a 37 CFR 1.131 affidavit in overcoming | ||
a double patenting rejection is inappropriate because | |||
the claim or claims in the application are being | |||
rejected over a patent which claims the rejected | |||
invention. In re Dunn, 349 F.2d 433, 146 USPQ 479 | |||
(CCPA 1965). 37 CFR 1.131 is inapplicable if the | |||
claims of the application and the patent are “directed | |||
to substantially the same invention.” It is also inappli | |||
cable if there is a lack of “patentable distinctness” | |||
between the claimed subject matter. Knell v. Muller, | |||
claimed, | 174 USPQ 460 (Comm’r. Pat. 1971), citing the court | ||
decisions in In re Ward, 236 F.2d 428, 111 USPQ 101 | |||
(CCPA 1956); In re Teague, 254 F.2d 145, 117 USPQ | |||
284 (CCPA 1958); and In re Hidy, 303 F.2d 954, 133 | |||
USPQ 65 (CCPA 1962). | |||
A patentee or applicant may disclaim or dedicate to | |||
the public the entire term, or any terminal part of the | |||
term of a patent. 35 U.S.C. 253. The statute does not | |||
provide for a terminal disclaimer of only a specified | |||
claim or claims. The terminal disclaimer must operate | |||
with respect to all claims in the patent. | |||
The filing of a terminal disclaimer to obviate a | |||
rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting is | |||
not an admission of the propriety of the rejection. | |||
Quad Environmental Technologies Corp. v. Union | |||
Sanitary District, 946 F.2d 870, 20 USPQ2d 1392 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 1991). The court indicated that the “filing of | |||
a terminal disclaimer simply serves the statutory function | |||
of removing the rejection of double patenting, | |||
and raises neither a presumption nor estoppel on the | |||
merits of the rejection.” | |||
A terminal disclaimer filed to obviate a double patenting | |||
rejection is effective only with respect to the | |||
application identified in the disclaimer, unless by its | |||
terms it extends to continuing applications. If an | |||
appropriate “provisional” nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejection is made in each of two or more | |||
pending applications, the examiner should follow | |||
the practice set forth in MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. | |||
in determining in which of the applications an appropriate | |||
terminal disclaimer must be filed. | |||
Claims that differ from each other (aside from | |||
minor differences in language, punctuation, etc.), | |||
whether or not the difference would have been | |||
obvious, are not considered to be drawn to the same | |||
invention for double patenting purposes under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 101. In cases where the difference in claims | |||
would have been obvious, terminal disclaimers | |||
are effective to overcome double patenting rejections. | |||
Where the subject matter of the reference and the | |||
claimed invention were commonly owned at the time | |||
the invention was made, such terminal disclaimers | |||
must include a provision that the patent shall be unenforceable | |||
if it ceases to be commonly owned with the | |||
other application or patent. Note 37 CFR 1.321(c). | |||
37 CFR 1.321(d) sets forth the requirements for a | |||
terminal disclaimer where the claimed invention | |||
resulted from activities undertaken within the scope | |||
of a joint research agreement as defined in 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(c)(3). It should be emphasized that a terminal | |||
disclaimer cannot be used to overcome a rejection | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a). | |||
III.TERMINAL DISCLAIMER REQUIRED | |||
DESPITE REQUEST TO ISSUE ON COMMON | |||
ISSUE DATE | |||
Applicants are cautioned that reliance upon a common | |||
issue date cannot effectively substitute for the filing | |||
of one or more terminal disclaimers in order to | |||
overcome a proper double patenting rejection, particularly | |||
since a common issue date alone does not avoid | |||
the potential problems of dual ownership by a | |||
common assignee, or by parties to a joint research | |||
agreement, of patents to patentably indistinct inventions. | |||
In any event, the Office cannot ensure that two | |||
or more applications will have a common issue date. | |||
IV.DISCLAIMING MULTIPLE DOUBLE | |||
PATENTING REFERENCES | |||
If multiple conflicting patents and/or pending applications | |||
are applied in double patenting rejections | |||
made in a single application, then prior to issuance of | |||
that application, it is necessary to disclaim the terminal | |||
part of any patent granted on the application | |||
which would extend beyond the application date of | |||
each one of the conflicting patents and/or applications. | |||
A terminal disclaimer fee is required for each | |||
terminal disclaimer filed. To avoid paying multiple | |||
terminal disclaimer fees, a single terminal disclaimer | |||
based on common ownership may be filed, for | |||
example, in which the term disclaimed is based on all | |||
the conflicting, commonly owned double patenting | |||
references. Similarly, a single terminal disclaimer | |||
based on a joint research agreement may be filed, in | |||
which the term disclaimed is based on all the conflicting | |||
double patenting references. | |||
Each one of the commonly owned conflicting | |||
of | double patenting references must be included | ||
in the terminal disclaimer to avoid the problem of | |||
dual ownership of patents to patentably indistinct | |||
inventions in the event that the patent issuing from the | |||
application being examined ceases to be commonly | |||
owned with any one of the double patenting references | |||
that have issued or may issue as a patent. Note | |||
that 37 CFR 1.321(c)(3) requires that a terminal disclaimer | |||
for commonly owned conflicting claims | |||
“[i]nclude a provision that any patent granted on that | |||
application or any patent subject to the reexamination | |||
proceeding shall be enforceable only for and during | |||
such period that said patent is commonly owned with | |||
the application or patent which formed the basis for | |||
the rejection.” | |||
Filing a terminal disclaimer including each one of | |||
the conflicting double patenting references is also | |||
necessary to avoid the problem of ownership of patents | |||
to patentably indistinct inventions by parties to a | |||
joint research agreement. 37 CFR 1.321(d) sets forth | |||
the requirements for a terminal disclaimer where the | |||
claimed invention resulted from activities undertaken | |||
within the scope of a joint research agreement. | |||
V.REQUIREMENTS OF A TERMINAL DISCLAIMER | |||
A terminal disclaimer is a statement filed by an | |||
owner (in whole or in part) of a patent or a patent to | |||
be granted that is used to disclaim or dedicate a portion | |||
that | of the entire term of all the claims of a patent. The | ||
requirements for a terminal disclaimer are set forth in | |||
37 CFR 1.321. Sample forms of a terminal disclaimer, | |||
and guidance as to the filing and treatment of a terminal | |||
disclaimer, are provided in MPEP § 1490. | |||
VI.TERMINAL DISCLAIMERS REQUIRED | |||
TO OVERCOME NONSTATUTORY | |||
DOUBLE PATENTING REJECTIONS IN | |||
APPLICATIONS FILED ON OR AFTER | |||
JUNE 8, 1995 | |||
( | Public Law 103-465 (1994) amended 35 U.S.C. | ||
utility | 154(a)(2) to provide that any patent issuing on a utility | ||
or plant application filed on or after June 8, 1995 | |||
will expire 20 years from its filing date, or, if the | |||
application claims the benefit of an earlier filed application | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c), 20 years | |||
from the earliest filing date for which a benefit under | |||
35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c) is claimed. Therefore, | |||
any patent issuing on a continuing utility or plant | |||
application filed on or after June 8, 1995 will expire | |||
20 years from the earliest filing date for which a benefit | |||
is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c), | |||
subject to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b). | |||
There are at least two reasons for insisting upon a | |||
terminal disclaimer to overcome a nonstatutory | |||
double patenting rejection in a continuing application | |||
subject to a 20-year term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2). | |||
First, 35 U.S.C. 154(b) includes provisions for patent | |||
term extension based upon prosecution delays during | |||
the application process. Thus, 35 U.S.C. 154 does not | |||
ensure that any patent issuing on a continuing utility | |||
the | or plant application filed on or after June 8, 1995 will | ||
necessarily expire 20 years from the earliest filing | |||
date for which a benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. | |||
120, 121, or 365(c). Second, 37 CFR 1.321(c)(3) | |||
requires that a terminal disclaimer filed to obviate a | |||
nonstatutory double patenting rejection based | |||
on commonly owned conflicting claims include a | |||
C | provision that any patent granted on that application | ||
be enforceable only for and during the period that the | |||
patent is commonly owned with the application or | |||
patent which formed the basis for the rejection. 37 | |||
CFR 1.321(d) sets forth the requirements for a terminal | |||
disclaimer where the claimed invention resulted | |||
from activities undertaken within the scope of a joint | |||
research agreement. These requirements serve to | |||
avoid the potential for harassment of an accused | |||
infringer by multiple parties with patents covering the | |||
same patentable invention. See, e.g., In re Van | |||
Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 944-48, 214 USPQ 761, 767-70 | |||
(CCPA 1982). Not insisting upon a terminal disclaimer | |||
to overcome a nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejection in an application subject to a 20-year | |||
term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2) would result in the | |||
potential for the problem that 37 CFR 1.321(c)(3) was | |||
promulgated to avoid. | |||
Accordingly, a terminal disclaimer under 37 CFR | |||
1.321 is required in an application to overcome a | |||
nonstatutory double patenting rejection, even if | |||
the application was filed on or after June 8, 1995 and | |||
claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c) | |||
the | of the filing date of the patent or application which | ||
forms the basis for the rejection. Examiners should | |||
respond to arguments that a terminal disclaimer under | |||
37 CFR 1.321 should not be required in a continuing | |||
application filed on or after June 8, 1995 to overcome | |||
a nonstatutory double patenting rejection due to | |||
the change to 35 U.S.C. 154 by citing to this section | |||
of the MPEP or to the Official Gazette notice at 1202 | |||
O.G. 112 (Sept. 30, 1997). | |||
804.03 Commonly Owned Inventions | |||
of Different Inventive Entities; | |||
Non-Commonly Owned | |||
Inventions Subject to a Joint | |||
Research Agreement [R-3] | |||
35 U.S.C. 103. Conditions for patentability; non-obvious | |||
subject matter. | |||
(c)(1) Subject matter developed by another person, which | |||
qualifies as prior art only under one or more of subsections (e), (f), | |||
and (g) of section 102 of this title, shall not preclude patentability | |||
under this section where the subject matter and the claimed invention | |||
were, at the time the claimed invention was made, owned by | |||
the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the | |||
same person. | |||
(2)For purposes of this subsection, subject matter developed | |||
by another person and a claimed invention shall be deemed | |||
to have been owned by the same person or subject to an obligation | |||
of assignment to the same person if — | |||
(A)the claimed invention was made by or on behalf of | |||
parties to a joint research agreement that was in effect on or before | |||
the date the claimed invention was made; | |||
(B)the claimed invention was made as a result of | |||
activities undertaken within the scope of the joint research agreement; | |||
and | |||
(C)the application for patent for the claimed invention | |||
discloses or is amended to disclose the names of the parties to the | |||
joint research agreement. | |||
(3)For purposes of paragraph (2), the term “joint | |||
( | research agreement” means a written contract, grant, or cooperative | ||
agreement entered into by two or more persons or entities for | |||
claimed | the performance of experimental, developmental, or research | ||
work in the field of the claimed invention. | |||
37 CFR 1.78. Claiming benefit of earlier filing date and | |||
cross references to other applications. | |||
(c)If an application or a patent under reexamination and at | |||
least one other application naming different inventors are owned | |||
by the same person and contain conflicting claims, and there is no | |||
claimed | statement of record indicating that the claimed inventions were | ||
commonly owned or subject to an obligation of assignment to the | |||
same person at the time the later invention was made, the Office | |||
may require the assignee to state whether the claimed inventions | |||
were commonly owned or subject to an obligation of assignment | |||
to the same person at the time the later invention was made, and if | |||
not, indicate which named inventor is the prior inventor. Even if | |||
the claimed inventions were commonly owned, or subject to an | |||
obligation of assignment to the same person, at the time the later | |||
invention was made, the conflicting claims may be rejected under | |||
the doctrine of double patenting in view of such commonly owned | |||
or assigned applications or patents under reexamination. | |||
37 CFR 1.130. Affidavit or declaration to disqualify | |||
commonly owned patent or published application as prior | |||
art. | |||
(a)When any claim of an application or a patent under reexamination | |||
is rejected under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103 on a U.S. patent or U.S. | |||
the | patent application publication which is not prior art under 35 | ||
U.S.C. 102(b), and the inventions defined by the claims in the | |||
application or patent under reexamination and by the claims in the | |||
patent or published application are not identical but are not patentably | |||
distinct, and the inventions are owned by the same party, the | |||
applicant or owner of the patent under reexamination may disqualify | |||
the patent or patent application publication as prior art. | |||
The patent or patent application publication can be disqualified as | |||
prior art by submission of: | |||
(1)A terminal disclaimer in accordance with § 1.321(c); | |||
and | |||
(2)An oath or declaration stating that the application or | |||
patent under reexamination and patent or published application | |||
( | are currently owned by the same party, and that the inventor | ||
named in the application or patent under reexamination is the | |||
prior inventor under 35 U.S.C. 104. | |||
(b)[Reserved] | |||
I.DOUBLE PATENTING | |||
Claims in commonly owned applications of | |||
different inventive entities may be rejected on the | |||
ground of double patenting. This is in accordance | |||
two or more | with existing case law and prevents an organization | ||
from obtaining two or more patents with different | |||
expiration dates covering nearly identical subject matter. | |||
See In re Zickendraht, 319 F.2d 225, 138 USPQ | |||
22 (CCPA 1963) (the doctrine is well established that | |||
claims in different applications need be more than | |||
merely different in form or content and that patentable | |||
distinction must exist to | |||
entitle applicants to a second | |||
patent) and In re Christensen, 330 F.2d 652, 141 | |||
USPQ 295 (CCPA 1964). | |||
Claims may also be rejected on the grounds of | |||
nonstatutory double patenting in certain non-commonly | |||
owned applications that claim inventions | |||
resulting from activities undertaken with the scope of | |||
a joint research agreement as defined in 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(c)(3). This prevents the parties to the joint | |||
research agreement from obtaining two or more patents | |||
with different expiration dates covering nearly | |||
identical subject matter. See the amendment to 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c) by the CREATE Act (Public Law 108- | |||
453; 118 Stat. 3596 (2004)). | |||
Double patenting rejections can be overcome | |||
in | |||
certain circumstances by disclaiming, pursuant | |||
to | |||
the | |||
provisions of 37 CFR 1.321(c), the terminal | |||
portion of | |||
in the | the term of the later patent and including in | ||
the disclaimer a provision that the patent shall be | |||
enforceable only for and during the period the patent | |||
is commonly owned with the application or patent | |||
which formed the basis for the rejection, thereby eliminating | |||
the problem of extending patent life. Double | |||
patenting rejections can also be overcome in cases | |||
subject to a joint research agreement, under certain | |||
circumstances, by disclaiming the terminal portion of | |||
the term of the later patent and including in the disclaimer | |||
the provisions of 37 CFR 1.321(d). | |||
See MPEP § 706.02(l) - § 706.02(l)(3) for information | |||
pertaining to establishment of common ownership | |||
and the existence of a joint research agreement | |||
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 103(c), as well as examination | |||
practice relating to 35 U.S.C. 103(c). | |||
II.IDENTIFYING COMMONLY OWNED | |||
AND NON-COMMONLY OWNED INVENTIONS | |||
SUBJECT TO A JOINT RESEARCH | |||
AGREEMENT | |||
( | A.Common Ownership by the Same Person(s) or | ||
Organization(s) | |||
Applications or patents are “commonly owned” | |||
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(1) if they were wholly or | |||
entirely owned by the same person(s), or organization( | |||
s)/business entity(ies), at the time the claimed | |||
invention was made. See MPEP § | |||
706.02(l)(2) for a | |||
detailed definition of common ownership. Two | |||
inventions of different inventive entities come within | |||
the common ownership provisions of 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(c)(1) when: | |||
(A)the later invention is not anticipated by the | |||
earlier invention under 35 U.S.C. 102; | |||
(B) | (B)the earlier invention qualifies as prior art for | ||
purposes of obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 against | |||
the | the later invention only under subsections (f) or | ||
(g) of 35 U.S.C. 102, or under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) | |||
for applications pending on or after December 10, | |||
the | 2004, for reexamination proceedings in which the | ||
patent under reexamination was granted on or after | |||
December 10, 2004, and for reexamination proceedings | |||
in which the patent under reexamination was | |||
filed on or after November 29, 1999; and | |||
(C)the inventions were, at the time the later | |||
invention was made, owned by the same person or | |||
subject to an obligation of assignment to the same | |||
person. | |||
B.Non-Commonly Owned Inventions Subject to | |||
a Joint Research Agreement | |||
The Cooperative Research and Technology | |||
Enhancement Act of 2004 (CREATE Act) (Public | |||
Law 108-453; 118 Stat. 3596 (2004)), which amended | |||
35 U.S.C. 103(c), was enacted on December 10, 2004. | |||
The CREATE Act permits an applicant or patentee, | |||
who is a party to a joint research agreement, to disqualify | |||
prior art that is applied in a rejection under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(a) and that is otherwise available as prior | |||
art only under 35 U.S.C. 102(e), (f) or (g). Congress | |||
recognized that this amendment to 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c) | |||
would result in situations in which there would be | |||
double patenting between patents or applications not | |||
owned by the same party. See H.R. Rep. No. 108-425, | |||
at 5-6 (2003). | |||
Pursuant to the CREATE Act, non-commonly | |||
owned applications or patents that are subject to a | |||
joint research agreement may be treated as if they are | |||
“commonly owned,” i.e., owned or subject to assignment | |||
The | by the same person, for the purposes of determining | ||
obviousness if certain conditions are met. See | |||
35 U.S.C 103(c)(2). The term “joint research agreement” | |||
means a written contract, grant, or cooperative | |||
agreement entered into by two or more persons or | |||
entities for the performance of experimental, developmental, | |||
or research work in the field of the claimed | |||
invention. See 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(3). See also MPEP | |||
§ | |||
706.02(l)(2). | |||
Two inventions come within the provisions of 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c)(2), for applications pending on or after | |||
December 10, 2004, and for reexamination proceedings | |||
in which the patent under reexamination issued | |||
and | after December 10, 2004, when: | ||
(A)the later invention is not anticipated by the | |||
earlier invention under 35 U.S.C. 102; | |||
(B)the claimed invention was made by or on | |||
behalf of parties to a joint research agreement that | |||
was in effect on or before the date the claimed invention | |||
was made; | |||
(C)the claimed invention was made as a result of | |||
activities undertaken within the scope of the joint | |||
research agreement; and | |||
and ( | |||
(D)the application for patent for the claimed | |||
invention discloses or is amended to disclose the | |||
names of the parties to the joint research agreement. | |||
C.Timing of Double Patenting Rejections | |||
The examiner should make both a double patenting | |||
rejection based on common ownership and a rejection | |||
based on 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103 prior art when the | |||
facts support both rejections. Until applicant has | |||
established that a reference is disqualified as prior art | |||
under the joint research agreement exclusion of | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c), the examiner should NOT apply a | |||
double patenting rejection based on a joint research | |||
agreement. See MPEP § 706.07(a) and § 804 for | |||
information regarding when an Office action that | |||
includes a new subsequent double patenting rejection | |||
based upon a reference disqualified under 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(c) may be made final. | |||
III.DETERMINING INVENTION PRIORITY | |||
A determination of priority is not required when | |||
two inventions are commonly owned as set forth in 35 | |||
inventions are | U.S.C. 103(c)(1). | ||
( | |||
Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.78(c), where an application | |||
or a patent under reexamination and at least one other | |||
application of different inventive entities are owned | |||
by the same party and contain conflicting claims, the | |||
examiner may require the assignee to state whether | |||
the claimed inventions come within the provisions of | |||
35 U.S.C. 103(c) (i.e., indicate whether common | |||
ownership or an obligation of assignment to the same | |||
person existed at the time the later invention was | |||
made). If the assignee states that the provisions of | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c) do not apply to the conflicting | |||
claimed inventions, the assignee is required to indicate | |||
which named inventor is the prior inventor. Form | |||
paragraphs 8.27, 8.28 and 8.28.01 may be used to | |||
require the applicant to identify the prior inventor | |||
under 37 CFR 1.78(c). In order to avoid abandonment, | |||
the assignee must comply with the requirement | |||
under 37 CFR 1.78(c) by naming the prior inventor | |||
unless the conflicting claims are eliminated in all but | |||
one application. If, however, the two inventions come | |||
within the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 103(c), it is not | |||
necessary to determine priority of invention since the | |||
earlier invention is disqualified as prior art against the | |||
later invention and since double patenting rejections | |||
can be used to ensure that the patent terms expire | |||
together. Accordingly, a response to a requirement | |||
under 37 CFR 1.78(c) which states that the inventions | |||
of different inventive entities come within the provisions | |||
of 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c) is complete without any | |||
further inquiry under 37 CFR 1.78(c) as to the prior | |||
inventor. | |||
Before making the requirement to identify the prior | |||
inventor under 37 CFR 1.78(c), with its threat to hold | |||
the application abandoned if the statement is not made | |||
by the assignee, the examiner must make sure that | |||
claims are present in each application which are conflicting | |||
as defined in MPEP § 804. See In re Rekers, | |||
203 USPQ 1034 (Comm’r Pat. 1979). | |||
In some situations the application file histories | |||
may reflect which invention is the prior invention, | |||
e.g., by reciting that one invention is an improvement | |||
of the other invention. See Margolis v. Banner, | |||
599 | |||
F.2d 435, 202 USPQ 365 (CCPA 1979) (Court | |||
refused to uphold a holding of abandonment for failure | |||
to name the prior inventor since the record | |||
showed what was invented by the different inventive | |||
entities and who was the prior inventor.). | |||
An application in which a requirement to name the | |||
prior inventor has been made will not be held abandoned | |||
where a timely response indicates that the other | |||
application is abandoned or will be permitted to | |||
become abandoned and will not be filed as a continuing | |||
application. Such a response will be considered | |||
sufficient since it renders the requirement to identify | |||
the prior inventor moot because the existence of conflicting | |||
claims is eliminated. Also note that the conflict | |||
between two or more pending applications can be | |||
avoided by abandoning the applications and filing a | |||
continuation-in-part application merging the conflicting | |||
inventions into a single application. | |||
IV. REJECTIONS UNDER 35 U.S.C. 102 | |||
AND 103 AND DOUBLE PATENTING | |||
( | Form paragraphs 8.27, 8.28 and 8.28.01 may be | ||
used to require the applicant to name the prior inventor | |||
under 37 CFR 1.78(c). | |||
¶ 8.27 Different Inventors, Common Assignee, Same | |||
Invention | |||
Claim [1] directed to the same invention as that of claim [2] of | |||
commonly assigned [3]. The issue of priority under 35 U.S.C. | |||
102(g) and possibly 35 U.S.C. 102(f) of this single invention must | |||
invention | be resolved. | ||
Since the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office normally will not | |||
institute an interference between applications or a patent and an | |||
application of common ownership (see MPEP Chapter 2300), the | |||
assignee is required to state which entity is the prior inventor of | |||
the conflicting subject matter. A terminal disclaimer has no effect | |||
in this situation since the basis for refusing more than one patent is | |||
priority of invention under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and not an | |||
extension of monopoly. | |||
Failure to comply with this requirement will result in a holding | |||
of abandonment of this application. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.In bracket 3, insert the U.S. patent number or the copending | |||
application number. | |||
2.The claims listed in brackets 1 and 2 must be for the same | |||
invention. If one invention would have been obvious in view of | |||
the other, do not use this form paragraph; see form paragraph | |||
8.28. | |||
the | |||
( | 3.A provisional or actual statutory double patenting rejection | ||
should also be made using form paragraphs 8.31 or 8.32. | |||
4.If the commonly assigned application or patent has an earlier | |||
U.S. filing date, a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) may also be | |||
made using form paragraph 7.15.01 or 7.15.02. | |||
¶ 8.28 Different Inventors, Common Assignee, Obvious | |||
Inventions, No Evidence of Common Ownership at Time of | |||
Invention | |||
Claim [1] directed to an invention not patentably distinct from | |||
claim [2] of commonly assigned [3]. Specifically, [4]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph should be used when the application | |||
being examined is commonly assigned with a conflicting application | |||
or patent, but there is no indication that they were commonly | |||
assigned at the time the invention was actually made. | |||
2.A rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) using form paragraph | |||
7.21,7.21.01 or 7.21.02 also should be made, as appropriate. | |||
For applications pending on or after December 10, 2004, rejections | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) should not be made or maintained | |||
if the patent is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior | |||
art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. | |||
3.In bracket 3, insert the number of the conflicting patent or | |||
application. | |||
4.An obviousness-type double patenting rejection should also | |||
be included in the action using one of form paragraphs 8.34 to | |||
8.37 | |||
5.In bracket 4, explain why the claims in the conflicting cases | |||
are not considered to be distinct. | |||
6.Form paragraph 8.28.01 MUST follow this paragraph. | |||
¶ 8.28.01 Advisory Information Relating to Form | |||
Paragraph 8.28 | |||
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office normally will not institute | |||
an interference between applications or a patent and an application | |||
of common ownership (see MPEP Chapter 2300). | |||
Commonly assigned [1], discussed above, would form the basis | |||
invention or | for a rejection of the noted claims under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) if the | ||
commonly assigned case qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. | |||
102(e), (f) or (g) and the conflicting inventions were not commonly | |||
owned at the time the invention in this application was | |||
made. In order for the examiner to resolve this issue the assignee | |||
can, under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) and 37 CFR 1.78(c), either show that | |||
the conflicting inventions were commonly owned at the time the | |||
invention in this application was made, or name the prior inventor | |||
of the conflicting subject matter. | |||
A showing that the inventions were commonly owned at the | |||
time the invention in this application was made will preclude a | |||
rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) based upon the commonly | |||
assigned case as a reference under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g), or 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e) for applications pending on or after December 10, | |||
2004. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
This form paragraph should follow form paragraph 8.28 and | |||
should only be used ONCE in an Office action. | |||
If the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(1) apply | |||
to the commonly owned conflicting inventions of different | |||
inventive entities or if the provisions of 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c)(2) apply to non-commonly owned | |||
inventions subject to a joint research agreement and | |||
as | thereby obviate the obviousness rejection(s), double | ||
patenting rejection(s) should be made (or maintained) | |||
as appropriate. If, however, it is determined | |||
that the provisions of 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c) do NOT apply | |||
because the inventions were not commonly owned or | |||
subject to an obligation of assignment to the same | |||
person at the time the later invention was made, or | |||
because the claimed invention did NOT result from | |||
activities undertaken within the scope of a joint | |||
research agreement as required by 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(c)(2) and (3), and there is evidence of record to | |||
indicate that a patent or application is prior art against | |||
the application being examined, the examiner should | |||
make (A) any appropriate double patenting rejection( | |||
s), and (B) the appropriate prior art rejection(s) | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 102 and/or 35 U.S.C. 103 in the | |||
C. | application being examined. See Charts I-A, I-B, II-A, | ||
and II-B in MPEP § 804. Rejections under | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 102 or 35 U.S.C. 103 cannot be obviated | |||
solely by filing a terminal disclaimer. | |||
¶ 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. 102is applicable, use form paragraph 7.15.02 or 7.15.03. | |||
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, orby form paragraph 7.103. | |||
5.If 35 U.S.C. 102(e) is also being applied, this form paragraph | |||
must be followed by either form paragraph 7.15.02 or 7.15.03. | |||
¶ 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 paragraph must be preceded either by paragraphs 7.07and 7.13 or by paragraph 7.103. | |||
2.In bracket 2, insert an explanation of the supporting evidence | |||
establishing that applicant was not the inventor. See MPEP § | |||
2137. | |||
that | |||
¶ 7.21 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a) | |||
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable | |||
over [2]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
This | 1.This paragraph must be preceded by either form paragraph | ||
7.20 or form paragraph 7.103. | |||
2.An explanation of the rejection applying the Graham v. | |||
Deere test must follow this form paragraph. | |||
3.If the rejection relies upon prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e), | |||
use 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors Protection | |||
Act to determine the reference’s prior art date, unless the | |||
reference is a U.S. patent issued directly, or indirectly, from an | |||
international application which has an international filing date | |||
prior to November 29, 2000. In other words, use pre-AIPA 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e) only if the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly | |||
U.S.C. | 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. 120, 121 or 365(c) to | |||
an international application having an international filing date | |||
prior to November 29, 2000. See the Examiner Notes for form | |||
paragraphs 7.12 and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the | |||
reference’s 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date. | |||
4.If the applicability of this rejection (e.g., the availability of | |||
the prior art as a reference under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or 35 U.S.C. | |||
102(b)) prevents the reference from being disqualified under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c), form paragraph 7.20.01 must follow this form | |||
paragraph. | |||
5.If this rejection is a provisional 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection | |||
based upon a copending application that would comprise prior art | |||
under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e) if patented or published, use form paragraph | |||
7.21.01 instead of this paragraph. | |||
¶ 7.21.01 Provisional Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a), | |||
Common Assignee or at Least One Common Inventor | |||
Claim [1] provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as | |||
being obvious over 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 published or patented. | |||
This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) is based | |||
upon a presumption of future publication or patenting of the conflicting | |||
application. [4] | |||
This provisional rejection 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 a showing of a date of invention for the instant application | |||
prior to the effective U.S. filing date of the copending application | |||
under 37 CFR 1.131. This rejection might also be overcome | |||
by | |||
showing that the copending application is disqualified under | |||
35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). | |||
See MPEP § 706.02(l)(1) and § 706.02(l)(2). | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This paragraph is used to provisionally reject claims not patentably | |||
distinct from the disclosure in a copending application | |||
having an earlier U.S. filing date and also having either a common | |||
assignee or at least one common inventor. This form paragraph | |||
should not be used in applications pending on or after December | |||
10, 2004 when the copending application is disqualified under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. See | |||
MPEP § 706.02(l)(3). | |||
2.Use 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors | |||
Protection Act (AIPA) to determine the copending application reference’s | |||
prior art date, unless the copending application reference | |||
is based directly, or indirectly, from an international application | |||
which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. | |||
If the copending application reference is either a national stage of | |||
or | an international application (application under 35 U.S.C. 371) | ||
or | which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, | ||
or a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, | |||
121, or 365(c) to an international application having an international | |||
filing date prior to November 29, 2000, use pre-AIPA 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e) to determine the copending application reference’s | |||
prior art date. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraphs 7.12and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) | |||
date. | |||
3.If the claimed invention is fully disclosed in the copending | |||
application, use paragraph 7.15.01. | |||
4.In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--. | |||
5.In bracket 4, insert explanation of obviousness. | |||
6.If the claimed invention is also claimed in the copending | |||
application, a provisional obviousness double patenting rejection | |||
should additionally be made using paragraph 8.33 and 8.37. | |||
( | 7.If evidence indicates that the copending application is also | ||
prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and the copending application | |||
has not been disqualified as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) | |||
rejection pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 103(c), a rejection should additionally | |||
be made under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) using paragraph 7.21 | |||
(e.g., applicant has named the prior inventor in response to a | |||
requirement made using paragraph 8.28). | |||
( | Further, if the conflicting applications have different | ||
effective U.S. filing dates, the examiner should | |||
consider making a provisional rejection in the later | |||
filed application, based on the earlier filed application, | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) or 102(e)/103(a), using | |||
form paragraph 7.15.01 or 7.21.01. Similarly, if an | |||
application has a later effective U.S. filing date than a | |||
conflicting issued patent, the examiner should consider | |||
making a rejection in the application, based on | |||
the patent, under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) or 102(e)/103(a), | |||
using form paragraph 7.15.02 or 7.21.02. Rejections | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 102 or 103 cannot be obviated solely | |||
by the filing of a terminal disclaimer. However, | |||
for applications pending on or after December 10, | |||
2004, rejections under 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103(a) should | |||
not be made or maintained if the patent is disqualified | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. | |||
103(a) rejection. | |||
( | ¶ 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 published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) or patented. This provisional | |||
rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) is based upon a presumption | |||
of future publication or 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 which has not been published under 35 U.S.C. | |||
122. The copending application must have either a common | |||
assignee or at least one common inventor. | |||
( | 2. Use 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors | ||
Protection Act and the Intellectual Property and High Technology | |||
Technical Amendments Act of 2002 (form paragraph 7.12) | |||
to determine the copending application reference’s prior art date, | |||
unless the copending application reference is based directly, or | |||
indirectly, from an international application which has an international | |||
filing date prior to November 29, 2000. If the copending | |||
application reference is 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. 120, 121, or 365(c) | |||
to an international application having an international filing date | |||
prior to November 29, 2000, use pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) | |||
(form paragraph 7.12.01). See the Examiner Notes for form paragraphs | |||
7.12 and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e) date. | |||
3.If the claims would have been obvious over the invention | |||
disclosed in the other copending application, use form paragraph | |||
7.21.01. | |||
4.In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--. | |||
5.In bracket 4, an appropriate explanation may be provided in | |||
support of the examiner’s position on anticipation, if necessary. | |||
6.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. | |||
7.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 or patent | |||
application publication with an earlier filing date that discloses | |||
but does not claim the same invention. The patent or patent application | |||
publication must have either a common assignee or 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.a U.S. patent or a publication of a U.S. application for patent | ||
filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a); | |||
b.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 November 29, 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. 122 of | |||
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 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--. | |||
7.This form paragraph must be preceded by either of form | |||
paragraphs 7.12 or 7.12.01. | |||
8.Patent application publications may only be used if this form | |||
paragraph was preceded by form paragraph 7.12. | |||
( | ¶ 7.21.01 Provisional Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a), | ||
Common Assignee or at Least One Common Inventor | |||
( | Claim [1] provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as | ||
being obvious over 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 published or patented. | |||
This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) is based | |||
upon a presumption of future publication or patenting of the conflicting | |||
application. [4] | |||
This provisional rejection 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 a showing of a date of invention for the instant application | |||
prior to the effective U.S. filing date of the copending application | |||
under 37 CFR 1.131. This rejection might also be overcome | |||
by | |||
showing that the copending application is disqualified under | |||
35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). | |||
See MPEP § 706.02(l)(1) and § 706.02(l)(2). | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This paragraph is used to provisionally reject claims not patentably | |||
distinct from the disclosure in a copending application | |||
having an earlier U.S. filing date and also having either a common | |||
assignee or at least one common inventor. This form paragraph | |||
should not be used in applications pending on or after December | |||
10, 2004 when the copending application is disqualified under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. See | |||
MPEP § 706.02(l)(3). | |||
2.Use 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors | |||
Protection Act (AIPA) to determine the copending application reference’s | |||
prior art date, unless the copending application reference | |||
is based directly, or indirectly, from an international application | |||
which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. | |||
If the copending application reference is 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. 120, | |||
121, or 365(c) to an international application having an international | |||
filing date prior to November 29, 2000, use pre-AIPA 35 | |||
U.S.C. 102(e) to determine the copending application reference’s | |||
prior art date. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraphs 7.12and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) | |||
date. | |||
3.If the claimed invention is fully disclosed in the copending | |||
application, use paragraph 7.15.01. | |||
4.In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--. | |||
or | |||
5.In bracket 4, insert explanation of obviousness. | |||
6.If the claimed invention is also claimed in the copending | |||
application | application, a provisional obviousness double patenting rejection | ||
should additionally be made using paragraph 8.33 and 8.37. | |||
7.If evidence indicates that the copending application is also | |||
prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and the copending application | |||
has not been disqualified as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) | |||
rejection pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 103(c), a rejection should additionally | |||
be made under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) using paragraph 7.21 | |||
(e.g., applicant has named the prior inventor in response to a | |||
requirement made using paragraph 8.28). | |||
¶ 7.21.02 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a), Common Assignee | |||
or at Least One Common Inventor | |||
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being obvious | |||
over [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 | |||
or | rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) might be overcome by: (1) 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 an invention “by another”; (2) a showing | |||
of a date of invention for the claimed subject matter of the | |||
application which corresponds to subject matter disclosed but not | |||
claimed in the reference, prior to the effective U.S. filing date of | |||
the reference under 37 CFR 1.131; or (3) an oath or declaration | |||
under 37 CFR 1.130 stating that the application and reference are | |||
currently owned by the same party and that the inventor named in | |||
the application is the prior inventor under 35 U.S.C. 104, together | |||
with a terminal disclaimer in accordance with 37 | |||
CFR 1.321(c). | |||
This rejection might also be overcome by showing that the reference | |||
is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a rejection | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). See MPEP § 706.02(l)(1) and § | |||
706.02(l)(2). [4] | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This paragraph is used to reject over a reference (patent or | |||
published application) with an earlier filing date that discloses the | |||
claimed invention, and that only qualifies as prior art under 35 | |||
the | U.S.C. 102(e). If the reference qualifies as prior art under 35 | ||
U.S.C. 102(a) or (b), then this form paragraph should not be used | |||
(form paragraph 7.21 should be used instead). The reference must | |||
have either a common assignee or at least one common inventor. | |||
This form paragraph should not be used in applications when the | |||
a | reference is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a | ||
35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. See MPEP § 706.02(l)(3). | |||
2.35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors | |||
Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) must be applied if the reference is | |||
one of the following: | |||
a.a U.S. patent or a publication of a U.S. application for patent | |||
filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a); | |||
b.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) 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 bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--. | |||
5.In bracket 4, insert explanation of obviousness. | |||
804.04Submission to Technology Center | |||
Director | |||
In order to promote uniform practice, every Office | |||
action containing a rejection on the ground of double | |||
patenting which relies on the parent application rejecting | |||
the claims in a divisional or continuing application | |||
where the divisional or continuing application | |||
was filed because of a requirement to restrict made by | |||
the examiner under 35 U.S.C. 121, including a | |||
requirement to elect species, must be submitted to the | |||
Technology Center Director for approval prior to | |||
mailing. If the rejection on the ground of double patenting | |||
is disapproved, it shall not be mailed but other | |||
appropriate action shall be taken. Note MPEP § | |||
1003. | |||
805Effect of Improper Joinder in | |||
Patent [R-3] | |||
35 U.S.C. 121, last sentence, provides “the validity | |||
of a patent shall not be questioned for failure of the | |||
Director to require the application to be restricted | |||
to one invention.” In other words, under this statute, | |||
no patent can be held void for improper joinder of | |||
inventions claimed therein. | |||
806Determination of Distinctness or | |||
Independence of Claimed Inventions | |||
[R-3] | |||
The general principles relating to distinctness or | |||
independence may be summarized as follows: | |||
Where, | (A)Where inventions are independent (i.e., no | ||
disclosed relation therebetween), restriction to one | |||
thereof is ordinarily proper, MPEP § 806.06. | |||
(B)Where inventions are related as disclosed but | |||
are distinct as claimed, restriction may be proper. | |||
(C)Where inventions are related as disclosed but | |||
are not distinct as claimed, restriction is never proper. | |||
(D)A reasonable number of species may be | |||
claimed when there is an allowable claim generic | |||
thereto. 37 CFR 1.141, MPEP § 806.04. | |||
Where | Where restriction is required by the Office double | ||
patenting cannot be held, and thus, it is imperative the | |||
requirement should never be made where related | |||
inventions as claimed are not distinct. For (B) and (C) | |||
inventions claimed. | see MPEP § 806.05 - § 806.05(j) and § 809.03. | ||
See MPEP § 802.01 for criteria for patentably distinct | |||
inventions. | |||
806.01Compare Claimed Subject | |||
Matter [R-3] | |||
In passing upon questions of double patenting and | |||
restriction, it is the claimed subject matter that is considered | |||
and such claimed subject matter must be compared | |||
in order to determine the question of | |||
distinctness or independence. However, a provisional | |||
or | election of a single species may be required | ||
and | where only generic claims are presented and the | ||
generic claims recite such a multiplicity of species | |||
that an unduly extensive and burdensome search is | |||
necessary. See MPEP § 803.02 and § 808.01(a). | |||
806.03Single Embodiment, Claims Defining | |||
Same Essential Features | |||
[R-3] | |||
Where | Where the claims of an application define the same | ||
the application | essential characteristics of a single disclosed embodiment | ||
of an invention, restriction therebetween should | |||
never be required. This is because the claims are | |||
not directed to distinct inventions; rather they are | |||
different definitions of the same disclosed subject | |||
matter, varying in breadth or scope of definition. | |||
Where such claims are voluntarily presented in | |||
different applications having at least one common | |||
inventor or a common assignee (i.e., no restriction | |||
requirement was made by the Office), disclosing the | |||
same embodiments, see MPEP § 804 - § 804.02. | |||
806.04Genus and/or Species Inventions | |||
[R-3] | |||
Where the | Where an application includes claims directed | ||
to different embodiments or species that could fall | |||
within the scope of a generic claim, restriction | |||
between the species may be proper if the species are | |||
independent or distinct. However, 37 CFR 1.141 provides | |||
that an allowable generic claim may link a reasonable | |||
number of species embraced thereby. The | |||
practice is set forth in 37 CFR 1.146. | |||
37 CFR 1.146. Election of species. | |||
In the first action on an application containing a generic claim | |||
to a generic invention (genus) and claims to more than one patentably | |||
distinct species embraced thereby, the examiner may require | |||
the applicant in the reply to that action to elect a species of his or | |||
her invention to which his or her claim will be restricted if no | |||
claim to the genus is found to be allowable. However, if such | |||
application contains claims directed to more than a reasonable | |||
number of species, the examiner may require restriction of the | |||
claims to not more than a reasonable number of species before | |||
taking further action in the application. | |||
See MPEP § 806.04(d) for the definition of a | |||
generic claim, and MPEP § 806.04(e) for a discussion | |||
of claims that include one or more species. | |||
806.04(b)Species May Be Independent | |||
or Related Inventions [R-3] | |||
Species may be either independent or | |||
related under the particular disclosure. Where species | |||
under a claimed genus are not connected in any | |||
of design, operation, or effect under the disclosure, | |||
the species are independent inventions. See MPEP | |||
§ | |||
802.01 and § 806.06. Where inventions as disclosed | |||
and claimed are both (A) species under a | |||
claimed genus and (B) related, then the question of | |||
restriction must be determined by both the practice | |||
applicable to election of species and the practice | |||
applicable to other types of restrictions such as those | |||
covered in MPEP § 806.05 - § 806.05(j). If | |||
restriction is improper under either practice, it should | |||
not be required. | |||
For example, two different subcombinations usable | |||
with each other may each be a species of some common | |||
generic invention. If so, restriction practice | |||
under election of species and the practice applicable | |||
to restriction between combination and subcombinations | |||
must be addressed. | |||
As a further example, species of carbon compounds | |||
may be related to each other as intermediate and final | |||
product. Thus, these species are not independent and | |||
in order to sustain a restriction requirement, distinctness | |||
must be shown. Distinctness is proven if the | |||
intermediate and final products do not overlap in | |||
scope and are not obvious variants and it can be | |||
shown that the intermediate product is useful other | |||
than to make the final product. Otherwise, the disclosed | |||
relationship would preclude their being issued | |||
in separate patents. See MPEP § 806.05(j) for | |||
restriction practice pertaining to related products, | |||
including intermediate-final product relationships. | |||
806.04(d)Definition of a Generic Claim[R-3] | |||
a | |||
In an application presenting three species illustrated, | |||
for example, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, respectively, | |||
a generic claim should read on each of these | |||
views; but the fact that a claim does so read is not | |||
conclusive that it is generic. It may define only an element | |||
or subcombination common to the several species. | |||
may | |||
In general, a generic claim should require no | |||
material element additional to those required by | |||
the species claims, and each of the species claims | |||
must require all the limitations of the generic claim. | |||
Once a generic claim is allowable, all of the | |||
claims drawn to species in addition to the elected species | |||
which require all the limitations of the | |||
generic claim will ordinarily be allowable over the | |||
prior art in view of the allowability of the | |||
generic claim, since the additional species will depend | |||
thereon or otherwise require all of the limitations | |||
thereof. When all or some of the claims directed to | |||
one of the species in addition to the elected species do | |||
not require all the limitations of the generic claim, | |||
see MPEP § 821.04(a). | |||
806.04(e)Claims Limited to Species [R-5] | |||
Claims are definitions or descriptions of inventions. | |||
Claims themselves are never species. The | |||
scope of a claim may be limited to a single disclosed | |||
embodiment (i.e., a single species, and thus be designated | |||
a specific species claim). Alternatively, a | |||
claim may encompass two or more of the disclosed | |||
embodiments (and thus be designated a | |||
generic or genus claim). | |||
Species always refer to the different embodiments | |||
of the invention. | |||
Species may be either independent or related as disclosed | |||
(see MPEP § 806.04 and § | |||
806.04(b)). | |||
806.04(f)Restriction Between Mutually | |||
Exclusive Species | |||
[R-3] | |||
Where two or more species are claimed, a requirement | |||
for restriction to a single species may be proper | |||
if the species are mutually exclusive. Claims to | |||
different species are mutually exclusive if one | |||
claim recites limitations disclosed for a first species | |||
but not a second, while a second claim recites | |||
limitations disclosed only for the second species and | |||
not the first. This may also be expressed by saying | |||
that to require restriction between claims limited | |||
to species, the claims must not overlap in scope. | |||
806.04(h)Species Must Be Patentably | |||
Distinct From Each Other[R-3] | |||
In making a requirement for restriction in an application | |||
claiming plural species, the examiner should | |||
examiner should | group together species considered clearly unpatentable | ||
over each other . | |||
Where the application as | Where generic claims are allowable, applicant | ||
may claim in the same application additional species | |||
the | as provided by 37 CFR 1.141. See MPEP § 806.04. | ||
Where an applicant files a divisional application | |||
claiming a species previously claimed but nonelected | |||
the | in the parent case pursuant to and consonant with a | ||
requirement to restrict a double patenting rejection of | |||
the species claim(s) would be prohibited under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 121. See MPEP § 821.04(a) for rejoinder of | |||
as | species claims when a generic claim is allowable. | ||
Where, however, claims to a different species, or | |||
a species disclosed but not claimed in a parent case | |||
as filed and first acted upon by the examiner, are | |||
voluntarily presented in a different application having | |||
at least one common inventor or a common assignee | |||
(i.e., no requirement for election pertaining to said | |||
species was made by the Office) there should be | |||
close investigation to determine whether a double | |||
patenting rejection would be appropriate. See | |||
MPEP § 804.01 and § 804.02. | |||
806.04(i)Generic Claims Presented | |||
After Issue of Species [R-3] | |||
If a generic claim is presented after the | |||
issuance of a patent claiming one or more species | |||
within the scope of the generic claim, the Office may | |||
reject the generic claim on the grounds of obviousness- | |||
type double patenting when the patent and | |||
application have at least once common inventor and/ | |||
or are either (1) commonly assigned/owned or (2) | |||
non-commonly assigned/owned but subject to a joint | |||
research agreement as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(2) | |||
and (3). See MPEP § 804. Applicant may overcome | |||
such a rejection by filing a terminal disclaimer. See | |||
In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 1053, 29 USPQ2d | |||
2010, 2016 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Braithwaite, | |||
379 | |||
F.2d 594, 154 USPQ 29 (CCPA 1967). | |||
806.05Related Inventions [R-5] | |||
Where two or more related inventions are claimed, | |||
the principal question to be determined in connection | |||
is | with a requirement to restrict or a rejection on the | ||
ground of double patenting is whether or not | |||
the | |||
inventions as claimed are distinct. If they are | |||
distinct, | |||
restriction may be proper. If they are not distinct, | |||
restriction is never proper. If nondistinct inventions | |||
are claimed in separate applications or patents, double | |||
patenting must be held, except where the additional | |||
applications were filed consonant with a requirement | |||
to restrict. | |||
( | Various pairs of related inventions are noted in the | ||
following sections. In applications claiming inventions | |||
in different statutory categories, only one-way | |||
distinctness is generally needed to support a restriction | |||
requirement. See MPEP § 806.05(c) (combination | |||
and subcombination) and § 806.05(j) (related | |||
products or related processes) for examples of when a | |||
two-way test is required for distinctness. Related | |||
inventions in the same statutory class are considered | |||
mutually exclusive, or not overlapping in scope, if a | |||
first invention would not infringe a second invention, | |||
and the second invention would not infringe the first | |||
invention | |||
806.05(a)Combination and Subcombination | |||
[R-3] | |||
A combination is an organization of which a subcombination | |||
or element is a part. | |||
See MPEP § | 806.05(c)Criteria of Distinctness Between | ||
different | Combination and Subcombination | ||
[R-5] | |||
To support a requirement for restriction between | |||
combination and subcombination inventions, both | |||
two-way distinctness and reasons for insisting on | |||
restriction are necessary, i.e., there would be a serious | |||
search burden if restriction were not required | |||
as evidenced by separate classification, status, or field | |||
of search. See MPEP § 808.02. | |||
The inventions are distinct if it can be shown that a | |||
combination as claimed: | |||
(A)does not require the particulars of the subcombination | |||
as claimed for patentability (to show | |||
novelty and unobviousness), and | |||
(B)the subcombination can be shown to have | |||
utility either by itself or in another materially different | |||
combination. | |||
When these factors cannot be shown, such inventions | |||
are not distinct. | |||
The following examples are included for general | |||
guidance. | |||
See MPEP § 706.03(w) and § 706.07(b) for res | I.SUBCOMBINATION ESSENTIAL TO | ||
COMBINATION | |||
ABsp/Bsp No Restriction | |||
Where a combination as claimed requires the | |||
details of a subcombination as separately | |||
claimed, there is usually no evidence that combination | |||
ABsp is patentable without the details of Bsp. The | |||
inventions are not distinct and a requirement for | |||
restriction must not be made or maintained, even if | |||
the subcombination has separate utility. This situation | |||
can be diagrammed as combination ABsp (“sp” is an | |||
abbreviation for “specific”), and subcombination Bsp. | |||
Thus the specific characteristics required by the subcombination | |||
claim Bsp are also required by the combination | |||
claim. See MPEP § 806.05(d) for situations | |||
where two or more subcombinations are separately | |||
claimed. | |||
II.SUBCOMBINATION NOT ESSENTIAL | |||
TO COMBINATION | |||
A. ABbr/Bsp Restriction Proper | |||
Where a combination as claimed does not | |||
require the details of the subcombination as separately | |||
claimed and the subcombination has separate | |||
utility, the inventions are distinct and restriction is | |||
proper if reasons exist for insisting upon the restriction, | |||
i.e., there would be a serious search burden if | |||
restriction were not required as evidenced by separate | |||
classification, status, or field of search. | |||
This situation can be diagramed as combination | |||
ABbr (“br” is an abbreviation for “broad”), and subcombination | |||
Bsp (“sp” is an abbreviation for “specific”). | |||
Bbr indicates that in the combination the | |||
subcombination is broadly recited and that the specific | |||
characteristics required by the subcombination | |||
claim Bsp are not required by the combination claim. | |||
Since claims to both the subcombination and combination | |||
are presented, the omission of details of the | |||
claimed subcombination Bsp in the combination claim | |||
ABbr is evidence that the combination does not rely | |||
upon the specific limitations of the subcombination | |||
for its patentability. If subcombination Bsp has separate | |||
utility, the inventions are distinct and restriction is | |||
proper if reasons exist for insisting upon the restriction. | |||
In applications claiming plural inventions capable | |||
of being viewed as related in two ways, for example, | |||
as both combination-subcombination and also as species | |||
under a claimed genus, both applicable criteria | |||
for distinctness must be demonstrated to support a | |||
restriction requirement. See also MPEP § 806.04(b). | |||
Form paragraph 8.15 may be used in combination- | |||
subcombination restriction requirements. | |||
¶ 8.15 Combination-Subcombination | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as combination and subcombination. | |||
Inventions in this relationship are distinct if it can be | |||
shown that (1) the combination as claimed does not require the | |||
particulars of the subcombination as claimed for patentability, and | |||
(2) that the subcombination has utility by itself or in other combinations | |||
(MPEP § 806.05(c)). In the instant case, the combination | |||
as claimed does not require the particulars of the subcombination | |||
as claimed because [3]. The subcombination has separate utility | |||
such as [4]. | |||
The examiner has required restriction between combination | |||
and subcombination inventions. Where applicant elects a subcombination, | |||
and claims thereto are subsequently found allowable, | |||
any claim(s) depending from or otherwise requiring all the limitations | |||
of the allowable subcombination will be examined for patentability | |||
in accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. See MPEP § | |||
821.04(a). Applicant is advised that if any claim presented in a | |||
continuation or divisional application is anticipated by, or includes | |||
all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, | |||
such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or | |||
nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the | |||
instant application. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to both combination(s) and subcombination(s) (MPEP § | |||
806.05(c)). | |||
2.In bracket 3, specify the limitations of the claimed subcombination | |||
that are not required by the claimed combination, or the | |||
evidence that supports the conclusion that the combination does | |||
not rely upon the specific details of the subcombination for patentability. | |||
See MPEP § 806.05(c), subsection II and § 806.05(d). | |||
3.In bracket 4, suggest utility other than used in the combination. | |||
4.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
The burden is on the examiner to suggest an example | |||
of separate utility. If applicant proves or provides | |||
an argument, supported by facts, that the utility suggested | |||
by the examiner cannot be accomplished, the | |||
burden shifts to the examiner to document a viable | |||
separate utility or withdraw the requirement. | |||
B. ABsp/ABbr/Bsp Restriction Proper | |||
The presence of a claim to combination ABsp does | |||
not alter the propriety of a restriction requirement | |||
properly made between combination ABbr and subcombination | |||
Bsp. Claim ABbr is an evidence claim | |||
which indicates that the combination does not rely | |||
upon the specific details of the subcombination for its | |||
patentability. If a restriction requirement can be properly | |||
made between combination ABbr and subcombination | |||
Bsp, any claim to combination ABsp would be | |||
grouped with combination ABbr. | |||
If the combination claims are amended after a | |||
restriction requirement such that each combination, as | |||
claimed, requires all the limitations of the subcombination | |||
as claimed, i.e., if the evidence claim ABbr is | |||
deleted or amended to require Bsp, the restriction | |||
requirement between the combination and subcombination | |||
should not be maintained. | |||
If a claim to Bsp is determined to be allowable, any | |||
claims requiring Bsp, including any combination | |||
claims of the format ABsp, must be considered for | |||
rejoinder. See MPEP § 821.04. | |||
III.PLURAL COMBINATIONS REQUIRING A | |||
SUBCOMBINATION COMMON TO EACH | |||
COMBINATION | |||
When an application includes a claim to a single | |||
subcombination, and that subcombination is required | |||
by plural claimed combinations that are properly | |||
restrictable, the subcombination claim is a linking | |||
claim and will be examined with the elected combination | |||
(see MPEP § 809.03). The subcombination claim | |||
links the otherwise restrictable combination inventions | |||
and should be listed in form paragraph 8.12. The | |||
claimed plural combinations are evidence that the | |||
subcombination has utility in more than one combination. | |||
Restriction between plural combinations may be | |||
made using form paragraph 8.14.01. See MPEP | |||
§ | |||
806.05(j). | |||
806.05(d)Subcombinations Usable Together | |||
[R-5] | |||
Two or more claimed subcombinations, disclosed | |||
as usable together in a single combination, and which | |||
can be shown to be separately usable, are usually | |||
restrictable when the subcombinations do not overlap | |||
in scope and are not obvious variants. | |||
To support a restriction requirement where applicant | |||
separately claims plural subcombinations usable | |||
together in a single combination and claims a combination | |||
that requires the particulars of at least one of | |||
said subcombinations, both two-way distinctness and | |||
reasons for insisting on restriction are necessary. Each | |||
subcombination is distinct from the combination as | |||
claimed if: | |||
(A)the combination does not require the particulars | |||
of the subcombination as claimed for patentability | |||
(e.g., to show novelty and unobviousness), and | |||
(B)the subcombination can be shown to have | |||
utility either by itself or in another materially different | |||
combination. | |||
See MPEP § 806.05(c). Furthermore, restriction is | |||
only proper when there would be a serious burden if | |||
restriction were not required, as evidenced by separate | |||
classification, status, or field of search. | |||
Where claims to two or more subcombinations are | |||
presented along with a claim to a combination that | |||
includes the particulars of at least two subcombinations, | |||
the presence of the claim to the second subcombination | |||
is evidence that the details of the first | |||
subcombination are not required for patentability (and | |||
vice versa). For example, if an application claims | |||
ABC/B/C wherein ABC is a combination claim and B | |||
and C are each subcombinations that are properly | |||
restrictable from each other, the presence of a claim to | |||
C provides evidence that the details of B are not | |||
required for the patentability of combination ABC. | |||
Upon determining that all claims directed to an | |||
elected combination invention are allowable, the | |||
examiner must reconsider the propriety of the restriction | |||
requirement. Where the combination is allowable | |||
in view of the patentability of at least one of the subcombinations, | |||
the restriction requirement between the | |||
elected combination and patentable subcombination( | |||
s) will be withdrawn; furthermore, any subcombinations | |||
that were searched and determined to be | |||
allowable must also be rejoined. If a subcombination | |||
is elected and determined to be allowable, nonelected | |||
claims requiring all the limitations of the allowable | |||
claim will be rejoined in accordance with MPEP § | |||
821.04. | |||
Form paragraph 8.16 may be used in restriction | |||
requirements between subcombinations. | |||
¶ 8.16 Subcombinations, Usable Together | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as subcombinations disclosed | |||
as usable together in a single combination. The subcombinations | |||
are distinct if they do not overlap in scope and are not obvious | |||
variants, and if it is shown that at least one subcombination is separately | |||
usable. In the instant case subcombination [3] has separate | |||
utility such as [4]. See MPEP § 806.05(d). | |||
The examiner has required restriction between subcombinations | |||
usable together. Where applicant elects a subcombination | |||
and claims thereto are subsequently found allowable, any claim(s) | |||
depending from or otherwise requiring all the limitations of the | |||
allowable subcombination will be examined for patentability in | |||
accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. See MPEP § 821.04(a). Applicant | |||
is advised that if any claim presented in a continuation or divisional | |||
application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations | |||
of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim | |||
may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double | |||
patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to subcombinations usable together (MPEP § 806.05(d)). | |||
2.In bracket 3, insert the appropriate group number or identify | |||
the subcombination. | |||
3.In bracket 4, suggest utility other than with the other subcombination. | |||
4.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
The examiner must show, by way of example, that | |||
one of the subcombinations has utility other than in | |||
the disclosed combination. | |||
Care must be taken to determine if the subcombinations | |||
are generically claimed. | |||
Where subcombinations as disclosed and claimed | |||
are both (a) species under a claimed genus and (b) | |||
related, then the question of restriction must be determined | |||
by both the practice applicable to election of | |||
species and the practice applicable to related inventions. | |||
If restriction is improper under either practice, it | |||
should not be required (MPEP § 806.04(b)). | |||
If applicant proves or provides an argument, supported | |||
by facts, that the other use, suggested by the | |||
examiner, cannot be accomplished or is not reasonable, | |||
the burden is on the examiner to document a viable | |||
alternative use or withdraw the requirement. | |||
806.05(e)Process and Apparatus for Its | |||
Practice [R-5] | |||
Process and apparatus for its practice can be shown | |||
to be distinct inventions, if either or both of the following | |||
can be shown: (A) that the process as claimedcan be practiced by another materially different apparatus | |||
or by hand; or (B) that the apparatus as claimedcan be used to practice another materially different | |||
process. | |||
Form paragraph 8.17 may be used to make restriction | |||
requirements between process and apparatus. | |||
¶ 8.17 Process and Apparatus | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as process and apparatus for | |||
its practice. The inventions are distinct if it can be shown that | |||
either: (1) the process as claimed can be practiced by another | |||
materially different apparatus or by hand, or (2) the apparatus as | |||
claimed can be used to practice another materially different process. | |||
(MPEP § 806.05(e)). In this case [3]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to both a process and apparatus for its practice (MPEP § | |||
806.05(e)). | |||
2.In bracket 3, use one or more of the following reasons: | |||
(a)--the process as claimed can be practiced by another materially | |||
different apparatus such as......--, | |||
(b)--the process as claimed can be practiced by hand--, | |||
(c)--the apparatus as claimed can be used to practice another | |||
materially different process such as......--. | |||
3.A process can be practiced by hand if it can be performed | |||
without using any apparatus. | |||
4.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
The burden is on the examiner to provide reasonable | |||
examples that recite material differences. | |||
If applicant proves or provides convincing argument | |||
that there is no material difference or that a process | |||
cannot be performed by hand (if examiner so | |||
argued), the burden is on the examiner to document | |||
another materially different process or apparatus or | |||
withdraw the requirement. | |||
806.05(f)Process of Making and ProductMade [R-5] | |||
A process of making and a product made by the | |||
process can be shown to be distinct inventions if | |||
either or both of the following can be shown: (A) that | |||
the process as claimed is not an obvious process of | |||
making the product and the process as claimed can be | |||
used to make another materially different product; or | |||
(B) that the product as claimed can be made by | |||
another materially different process. | |||
Allegations of different processes or products need | |||
not be documented. | |||
A product defined by the process by which it can be | |||
made is still a product claim (In re Bridgeford, 357 | |||
F.2d 679, 149 USPQ 55 (CCPA 1966)) and can be | |||
restricted from the process if the examiner can demonstrate | |||
that the product as claimed can be made by | |||
another materially different process; defining the | |||
product in terms of a process by which it is made is | |||
nothing more than a permissible technique that applicant | |||
may use to define the invention. | |||
If applicant convincingly traverses the requirement, | |||
the burden shifts to the examiner to document a viable | |||
alternative process or product, or withdraw the | |||
requirement. | |||
Form paragraphs 8.18 and 8.21.04 should be used | |||
in restriction requirements between product and process | |||
of making. | |||
¶ 8.18 Product and Process of Making | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as process of making and | |||
product made. The inventions are distinct if either or both of the | |||
following can be shown: (1) that the process as claimed can be | |||
used to make another materially different product or (2) that the | |||
product as claimed can be made by another materially different | |||
process (MPEP § 806.05(f)). In the instant case [3]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to both a product and the process of making the product (MPEP | |||
§ 806.05(f)). | |||
2.In bracket 3, use one or more of the following reasons: | |||
(a)--the process as claimed can be used to make a materially different | |||
product such as......--, | |||
(b)--the product as claimed can be made by a materially different | |||
process such as......--. | |||
3.Conclude the basis for the restriction requirement with one of | |||
form paragraphs 8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
4.All restriction requirements between a product and a process | |||
of making the product should be followed by form paragraph | |||
8.21.04 to notify the applicant that if a product claim is found | |||
allowable, process claims that depend from or otherwise require | |||
all the limitations of the patentable product may be rejoined. | |||
¶ 8.21.04 Notice of Potential Rejoinder of Process Claims | |||
in Ochiai/Brouwer Situation | |||
The examiner has required restriction between product and | |||
process claims. Where applicant elects claims directed to the | |||
product, and the product claims are subsequently found allowable, | |||
withdrawn process claims that depend from or otherwise require | |||
all the limitations of the allowable product claim will be considered | |||
for rejoinder. All claims directed to a nonelected process | |||
invention must require all the limitations of an allowable product | |||
claim for that process invention to be rejoined. | |||
In the event of rejoinder, the requirement for restriction | |||
between the product claims and the rejoined process claims will | |||
be withdrawn, and the rejoined process claims will be fully examined | |||
for patentability in accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. Thus, to | |||
be allowable, the rejoined claims must meet all criteria for patentability | |||
including the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 101, 102, 103 and | |||
112. Until all claims to the elected product are found allowable, an | |||
otherwise proper restriction requirement between product claims | |||
and process claims may be maintained. Withdrawn process claims | |||
that are not commensurate in scope with an allowable product | |||
claim will not be rejoined. See MPEP § 821.04(b). Additionally, | |||
in order to retain the right to rejoinder in accordance with the | |||
above policy, applicant is advised that the process claims should | |||
be amended during prosecution to require the limitations of the | |||
product claims. Failure to do so may result in a loss of the right | |||
to rejoinder. Further, note that the prohibition against double patenting | |||
rejections of 35 U.S.C. 121 does not apply where the | |||
restriction requirement is withdrawn by the examiner before the | |||
patent issues. See MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
This form paragraph should appear at the end of any requirement | |||
for restriction between a product and a process of making | |||
the product (see form paragraph 8.18) or between a product and a | |||
process of using the product (see form paragraph 8.20). | |||
806.05(g)Apparatus and Product Made | |||
[R-3] | |||
An apparatus and a product made by the apparatus | |||
can be shown to be distinct inventions if either or both | |||
of the following can be shown: (A) that the apparatus | |||
as claimed is not an obvious apparatus for making the | |||
product and the apparatus as claimed can be used to | |||
make another materially different product; or (B) | |||
that the product as claimed can be made by another | |||
materially different apparatus. | |||
Form paragraph 8.19 may be used for restriction | |||
requirements between apparatus and product made. | |||
¶ 8.19 Apparatus and Product Made | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as apparatus and product | |||
made. The inventions in this relationship are distinct if either or | |||
both of the following can be shown: (1) that the apparatus as | |||
claimed is not an obvious apparatus for making the product and | |||
the apparatus can be used for making a materially different product | |||
or (2) that the product as claimed can be made by another | |||
materially different apparatus (MPEP § 806.05(g)). In this case | |||
[3]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to both the apparatus and product made (MPEP § 806.05(g)). | |||
2.In bracket 3, use one or more of the following reasons: | |||
(a)--the apparatus as claimed is not an obvious apparatus for | |||
making the product and the apparatus as claimed can be used to | |||
make a different product such as......--, | |||
(b)--the product can be made by a materially different apparatus | |||
such as......--. | |||
3.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
The examiner must show by way of example either | |||
(A) that the apparatus as claimed is not an obvious | |||
apparatus for making the product and the apparatus as | |||
claimed can be used to make another materially | |||
different product or (B) that the product as claimedcan be made by another materially different apparatus. | |||
The burden is on the examiner to provide an example, | |||
but the example need not be documented. | |||
If applicant either proves or provides convincing | |||
argument that the alternative example suggested by | |||
the examiner is not workable, the burden is on the | |||
examiner to suggest another viable example or withdraw | |||
the restriction requirement. | |||
806.05(h)Product and Process of Using[R-3] | |||
A product and a process of using the product can be | |||
shown to be distinct inventions if either or both of the | |||
following can be shown: (A) the process of using as | |||
claimed can be practiced with another materially different | |||
product; or (B) the product as claimed can be | |||
used in a materially different process. | |||
The burden is on the examiner to provide an example, | |||
but the example need not be documented. | |||
If the applicant either proves or provides a convincing | |||
argument that the alternative use suggested by the | |||
examiner cannot be accomplished, the burden is on | |||
the examiner to support a viable alternative use or | |||
withdraw the requirement. | |||
Form paragraphs 8.20 and 8.21.04 should | |||
be used in restriction requirements between the product | |||
and method of using. | |||
¶ 8.20 Product and Process of Using | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as product and process of | |||
use. The inventions can be shown to be distinct if either or both of | |||
the following can be shown: (1) the process for using the product | |||
as claimed can be practiced with another materially different | |||
product or (2) the product as claimed can be used in a materially | |||
different process of using that product. See MPEP § 806.05(h). In | |||
the instant case [3]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to both the product and process of using the product (MPEP § | |||
806.05(h). If claims to a process specially adapted for (i.e., not | |||
patentably distinct from) making the product are also presented | |||
such process of making claims should be grouped with the product | |||
invention. See MPEP § 806.05(i). | |||
2.In bracket 3, use one or more of the following reasons: | |||
(a)--the process as claimed can be practiced with another materially | |||
different product such as......--, | |||
(b)--the product as claimed can be used in a materially different | |||
process such as......--. | |||
3.Conclude the basis for the restriction requirement with one of | |||
form paragraphs 8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
4.All restriction requirements between a product and a process | |||
of using the product should be followed by form paragraph | |||
8.21.04 to notify the applicant that if a product claim is found | |||
allowable, process claims that depend from or otherwise require | |||
all the limitations of the patentable product may be rejoined. | |||
¶ 8.21.04 Notice of Potential Rejoinder of Process Claims | |||
in Ochiai/Brouwer Situation | |||
The examiner has required restriction between product and | |||
process claims. Where applicant elects claims directed to the | |||
product, and the product claims are subsequently found allowable, | |||
withdrawn process claims that depend from or otherwise require | |||
all the limitations of the allowable product claim will be considered | |||
for rejoinder. All claims directed to a nonelected process | |||
invention must require all the limitations of an allowable product | |||
claim for that process invention to be rejoined. | |||
In the event of rejoinder, the requirement for restriction | |||
between the product claims and the rejoined process claims will | |||
be withdrawn, and the rejoined process claims will be fully examined | |||
for patentability in accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. Thus, to | |||
be allowable, the rejoined claims must meet all criteria for patentability | |||
including the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 101, 102, 103 and | |||
112. Until all claims to the elected product are found allowable, an | |||
otherwise proper restriction requirement between product claims | |||
and process claims may be maintained. Withdrawn process claims | |||
that are not commensurate in scope with an allowable product | |||
claim will not be rejoined. See MPEP § 821.04(b). Additionally, | |||
in order to retain the right to rejoinder in accordance with the | |||
above policy, applicant is advised that the process claims should | |||
be amended during prosecution to require the limitations of the | |||
product claims. Failure to do so may result in a loss of the right | |||
to rejoinder. Further, note that the prohibition against double patenting | |||
rejections of 35 U.S.C. 121 does not apply where the | |||
restriction requirement is withdrawn by the examiner before the | |||
patent issues. See MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
This form paragraph should appear at the end of any requirement | |||
for restriction between a product and a process of making | |||
the product (see form paragraph 8.18) or between a product and a | |||
process of using the product (see form paragraph 8.20). | |||
806.05(i)Product, Process of Making, | |||
and Process of Using [R-3] | |||
37 CFR 1.141. Different inventions in one national | |||
application. | |||
(b)Where claims to all three categories, product, process of | |||
making, and process of use, are included in a national application, | |||
a three way requirement for restriction can only be made where | |||
the process of making is distinct from the product. If the process | |||
of making and the product are not distinct, the process of using | |||
may be joined with the claims directed to the product and the process | |||
of making the product even though a showing of distinctness | |||
between the product and process of using the product can be | |||
made. | |||
Where an application contains claims to a product, | |||
claims to a process specially adapted for (i.e., not pat | |||
entably distinct from, as defined in MPEP | |||
§ | |||
806.05(f)) making the product, and claims to a process | |||
of using the product, applicant may be | |||
required to elect either (A) the product and process of | |||
making it; or (B) the process of using. If the | |||
examiner cannot make a showing of distinctness | |||
between the process of using and the product (MPEP | |||
§ | |||
806.05(h)), restriction cannot be required. | |||
Form paragraph 8.20 (See MPEP § 806.05(h)) | |||
may be used in product, process of making and process | |||
of using situations where the product cannot | |||
be restricted from the process of making the product. | |||
See MPEP § 821.04(b) for rejoinder practice pertaining | |||
to product and process inventions. | |||
806.05(j)Related Products; Related | |||
Processes [R-5] | |||
To support a requirement for restriction between | |||
two or more related product inventions, or between | |||
two or more related process inventions, both two-way | |||
distinctness and reasons for insisting on restriction are | |||
necessary, i.e., separate classification, status in the art, | |||
or field of search. See MPEP § 808.02. See MPEP | |||
§ | |||
806.05(c) for an explanation of the requirements to | |||
establish two-way distinctness as it applies to inventions | |||
in a combination/subcombination relationship. | |||
For other related product inventions, or related process | |||
inventions, the inventions are distinct if | |||
(A)the inventions as claimed do not overlap in | |||
scope, i.e., are mutually exclusive; | |||
(B)the inventions as claimed are not obvious | |||
variants; and | |||
(C)the inventions as claimed are either not capable | |||
of use together or can have a materially different | |||
design, mode of operation, function, or effect. See | |||
MPEP § 802.01. | |||
The burden is on the examiner to provide an example | |||
to support the determination that the inventions | |||
are distinct, but the example need not be documented. | |||
If applicant either proves or provides convincing evidence | |||
that the example suggested by the examiner is | |||
not workable, the burden is on the examiner to suggest | |||
another viable example or withdraw the restriction | |||
requirement. | |||
As an example, an intermediate product and a final | |||
product can be shown to be distinct inventions if the | |||
intermediate and final products are mutually exclusive | |||
inventions (not overlapping in scope) that are not | |||
obvious variants, and the intermediate product as | |||
claimed is useful to make other than the final product | |||
as claimed. Typically, the intermediate loses its identity | |||
in the final product. See also MPEP § 806.05(d) | |||
for restricting between combinations disclosed as | |||
usable together. See MPEP § 809 - § 809.03 if a | |||
generic claim or claim linking multiple products or | |||
multiple processes is present. | |||
Form paragraph 8.14.01 may be used to restrict | |||
between related products or related processes; form | |||
paragraph 8.14 may be used in intermediate-final | |||
product restriction requirements; form paragraph 8.16may be used to restrict between subcombinations. | |||
¶ 8.14.01 Distinct Products or Distinct Processes | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are directed to related [3]. The related | |||
inventions are distinct if the (1) the inventions as claimed are | |||
either not capable of use together or can have a materially different | |||
design, mode of operation, function, or effect; (2) the inventions | |||
do not overlap in scope, i.e., are mutually exclusive; and (3) | |||
the inventions as claimed are not obvious variants. See MPEP § | |||
806.05(j). In the instant case, the inventions as claimed [4]. Furthermore, | |||
the inventions as claimed do not encompass overlapping | |||
subject matter and there is nothing of record to show them to | |||
be obvious variants. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph may be used when claims are presented | |||
to two or more related product inventions, or two or more related | |||
process inventions, wherein the inventions as claimed are mutually | |||
exclusive, i.e., there is no product (or process) that would | |||
infringe both of the identified inventions. Use form paragraph | |||
8.15 to restrict between combination(s) and subcombination(s). | |||
2.If a generic claim or claim linking multiple product inventions | |||
or multiple process inventions is present, see MPEP § 809 - | |||
§ 809.03. | |||
3.In bracket 3, insert --products -- or --processes--. | |||
4.In bracket 4, explain why the inventions as claimed are either | |||
not capable of use together or can have a materially different | |||
design, mode of operation, function, or effect. | |||
5.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
¶ 8.14 Intermediate-Final Product | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as mutually exclusive species | |||
in an intermediate-final product relationship. Distinctness is | |||
proven for claims in this relationship if the intermediate product is | |||
useful to make other than the final product and the species are pat | |||
entably distinct (MPEP § 806.05(j)). In the instant case, the intermediate | |||
product is deemed to be useful as [3] and the inventions | |||
are deemed patentably distinct because there is nothing on this | |||
record to show them to be obvious variants. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to both an intermediate and final product (MPEP § 806.05(j)). | |||
2.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
¶ 8.16 Subcombinations, Usable Together | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are related as subcombinations disclosed | |||
as usable together in a single combination. The subcombinations | |||
are distinct if they do not overlap in scope and are not obvious | |||
variants, and if it is shown that at least one subcombination is separately | |||
usable. In the instant case subcombination [3] has separate | |||
utility such as [4]. See MPEP § 806.05(d). | |||
The examiner has required restriction between subcombinations | |||
usable together. Where applicant elects a subcombination | |||
and claims thereto are subsequently found allowable, any claim(s) | |||
depending from or otherwise requiring all the limitations of the | |||
allowable subcombination will be examined for patentability in | |||
accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. See MPEP § 821.04(a). Applicant | |||
is advised that if any claim presented in a continuation or divisional | |||
application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations | |||
of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such claim | |||
may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double | |||
patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used when claims are presented | |||
to subcombinations usable together (MPEP § 806.05(d)). | |||
2.In bracket 3, insert the appropriate group number or identify | |||
the subcombination. | |||
3.In bracket 4, suggest utility other than with the other subcombination. | |||
4.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01 through 8.21.03. | |||
806.06Independent Inventions [R-5] | |||
Inventions as claimed are independent if there is no | |||
disclosed relationship between the inventions, that is, | |||
they are unconnected in design, operation, and effect. | |||
If it can be shown that two or more inventions are | |||
independent, and if there would be a serious burden | |||
on the examiner if restriction is not required, applicant | |||
should be required to restrict the claims presented to | |||
one of such independent inventions. For example: | |||
(A)Two different combinations, not disclosed as | |||
capable of use together, having different modes of | |||
operation, different functions and different effects are | |||
independent. An article of apparel and a locomotive | |||
bearing would be an example. A process of painting a | |||
house and a process of boring a well would be a second | |||
example. | |||
(B)Where the two inventions are process and | |||
apparatus, and the apparatus cannot be used to practice | |||
the process or any part thereof, they are independent. | |||
A specific process of molding is independent | |||
from a molding apparatus that cannot be used to practice | |||
the specific process. | |||
Form paragraph 8.20.02 may be used to restrict | |||
between independent, unrelated inventions. Form | |||
paragraph 8.20.03 may be used to restrict between an | |||
unrelated product and process. | |||
¶ 8.20.02 Unrelated Inventions | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are unrelated. Inventions are unrelated | |||
if it can be shown that they are not disclosed as capable of use | |||
together, and they have different designs, modes of operation, and | |||
effects. (MPEP § 802.01 and § 806.06). In the instant case, the different | |||
inventions [3] . | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is to be used only when claims are presented | |||
to unrelated inventions, e. g., a necktie and a locomotive | |||
bearing not disclosed as capable of use together. | |||
2.In bracket 3, insert reasons for concluding that the inventions | |||
are unrelated. | |||
3.This form paragraph must be followed by one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01, 8.21.02 or 8.21.03. | |||
¶ 8.20.03 Unrelated Product and Process Inventions | |||
Inventions [1] and [2] are directed to an unrelated product and | |||
process. Product and process inventions are unrelated if it can be | |||
shown that the product cannot be used in, or made by, the process. | |||
See MPEP § 802.01 and § 806.06. In the instant case, [3] . | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.In bracket 3, insert reasons for concluding that the inventions | |||
are unrelated. | |||
2.This form paragraph must be followed by one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01, 8.21.02 or 8.21.03. | |||
807Patentability Report Practice Has | |||
No Effect on Restriction Practice | |||
Patentability report practice (MPEP § 705), has no | |||
effect upon, and does not modify in any way, the practice | |||
of restriction, being designed merely to facilitate | |||
the handling of cases in which restriction cannot properly | |||
be required. | |||
808Reasons for Insisting Upon Restriction | |||
[R-3] | |||
Every requirement to restrict has two aspects: | |||
(A) | |||
the reasons (as distinguished from the mere statement | |||
of conclusion) why each invention as | |||
claimed is either independent or distinct from | |||
the other(s); and (B) the reasons why there would | |||
be a serious burden on the examiner if restriction is | |||
not required, i.e., the reasons for insisting upon | |||
restriction therebetween as set forth in the following | |||
sections. | |||
808.01Reasons for Holding of | |||
Independence or Distinctness | |||
[R-3] | |||
The particular reasons relied on by the examiner | |||
for holding that the inventions as claimed are | |||
either independent or distinct should be concisely | |||
stated. A mere statement of conclusion is inadequate. | |||
The reasons upon which the conclusion is based | |||
should be given. | |||
For example, relative to a combination and a subcombination | |||
thereof, the examiner should point out | |||
the reasons why he or she considers the subcombination | |||
to have utility by itself or in other combinations, | |||
and why he or she considers that the combination as | |||
claimed does not require the particulars of the subcombination | |||
as claimed. | |||
Each relationship of claimed inventions should be | |||
similarly treated and the reasons for the conclusions | |||
of distinctness or independence set forth. Form paragraphs | |||
8.01, 8.02, and 8.14 - 8.20.02 may be used as | |||
appropriate to explain why the inventions as claimed | |||
are independent or distinct. See MPEP § 806.05 - | |||
§ | |||
806.06. | |||
808.01(a)Species [R-5] | |||
Where there is no disclosure of a relationship | |||
between species (see MPEP § 806.04(b)), they are | |||
independent inventions. A requirement for restriction | |||
is permissible if there is a patentable difference | |||
between the species as claimed and there would be a | |||
serious burden on the examiner if restriction is not | |||
required. See MPEP § 803 and § | |||
808.02. | |||
Where there is a relationship disclosed between | |||
species, such disclosed relation must be discussed and | |||
reasons advanced leading to the conclusion that the | |||
disclosed relation does not prevent restriction, in | |||
order to establish the propriety of restriction. | |||
When a requirement for restriction between either | |||
independent or distinct species is made, applicant | |||
must elect a single disclosed species even if applicant | |||
disagrees with the examiner’s restriction requirement. | |||
Election of species should not be required | |||
between claimed species that are considered | |||
clearly unpatentable (obvious) over each other. In | |||
making a requirement for restriction in an application | |||
claiming plural species, the examiner should group | |||
together species considered clearly unpatentable over | |||
each other. | |||
Election of species may be required prior to a | |||
search on the merits (A) in applications containing | |||
claims to a plurality of species with no generic claims, | |||
and (B) in applications containing both species claims | |||
and generic or Markush claims. | |||
In applications where only generic claims are presented, | |||
restriction cannot be required unless the | |||
generic claims recite or encompass such a multiplicity | |||
of species that an unduly extensive and burdensome | |||
search would be necessary to search the | |||
entire scope of the | |||
claim. See MPEP § 803.02 and § | |||
809.02(a). If applicant presents species claims to | |||
more than one patentably distinct species of the | |||
invention after an Office action on only generic | |||
claims, with no restriction requirement, the Office | |||
may require the applicant to elect a single species for | |||
examination. | |||
In all applications where a generic claim is found | |||
allowable, the application should be treated as indicated | |||
in MPEP § 809 and § 821.04(a). See MPEP § | |||
803.02 and § 809.02(a) for guidance regarding how to | |||
require restriction between species. | |||
808.02Establishing Burden [R-5] | |||
Where, as disclosed in the application, the several | |||
inventions claimed are related, and such related | |||
inventions are not patentably distinct as claimed, | |||
restriction under 35 U.S.C. 121 is never proper | |||
(MPEP § 806.05). If applicant voluntarily files claims | |||
to such related inventions in different applications, | |||
double patenting may be held. | |||
Where the inventions as claimed are shown to be | |||
independent or distinct under the criteria of MPEP § | |||
806.05(c) - § 806.06, the examiner, in order to establish | |||
reasons for insisting upon restriction, must | |||
explain why there would be a serious burden on the | |||
examiner if restriction is not required. Thus the | |||
examiner must show by appropriate explanation one | |||
of the following: | |||
(A)Separate classification thereof: This shows | |||
that each invention has attained recognition in the art | |||
as a separate subject for inventive effort, and also a | |||
separate field of search. Patents need not be cited to | |||
show separate classification. | |||
(B)A separate status in the art when they are | |||
classifiable together: Even though they are classified | |||
together, each invention can be shown to have formed | |||
a separate subject for inventive effort when the examiner | |||
can show a recognition of separate inventive | |||
effort by inventors. Separate status in the art may be | |||
shown by citing patents which are evidence of such | |||
separate status, and also of a separate field of search. | |||
(C)A different field of search: Where it is necessary | |||
to search for one of the inventions in a manner | |||
that is not likely to result in finding art pertinent to the | |||
other invention(s) (e.g., searching different classes/ | |||
subclasses or electronic resources, or employing different | |||
search queries, a different field of search is | |||
shown, even though the two are classified together. | |||
The indicated different field of search must in fact be | |||
pertinent to the type of subject matter covered by the | |||
claims. Patents need not be cited to show different | |||
fields of search. | |||
Where, however, the classification is the same and | |||
the field of search is the same and there is no clear | |||
indication of separate future classification and field of | |||
search, no reasons exist for dividing among independent | |||
or related inventions. | |||
809Linking Claims [R-5] | |||
There are a number of situations which arise in | |||
which an application has claims to two or more properly | |||
divisible inventions, so that a requirement to | |||
restrict the claims of the application to one would be | |||
proper, but presented in the same case are one or more | |||
claims (generally called “linking” claims) which, | |||
if allowable, would require rejoinder of the otherwise | |||
divisible inventions. See MPEP § 821.04 for information | |||
pertaining to rejoinder practice. | |||
Linking claims and the inventions they link | |||
together are usually either all directed to products or | |||
all directed to processes (i.e., a product claim linking | |||
properly divisible product inventions, or a process | |||
claim linking properly divisible process inventions). | |||
The most common types of linking claims which, if | |||
allowable, act to prevent restriction between inventions | |||
that can otherwise be shown to be divisible, are | |||
(A)genus claims linking species claims; and | |||
(B)subcombination claims linking plural combinations. | |||
Where an application includes claims to distinct | |||
inventions as well as linking claims, restriction can | |||
nevertheless be required. | |||
The linking claims must be examined with, and | |||
thus are considered part of, the invention elected. | |||
When all claims directed to the elected invention are | |||
allowable, should any linking claim be allowable, the | |||
restriction requirement between the linked inventions | |||
must be withdrawn. Any claim(s) directed to the nonelected | |||
invention(s), previously withdrawn from consideration, | |||
which depends from or requires all the | |||
limitations of the allowable linking claim must be | |||
rejoined and will be fully examined for patentability. | |||
Where the requirement for restriction in an application | |||
is predicated upon the nonallowability of generic | |||
or other type of linking claims, applicant is entitled to | |||
retain in the application claims to the nonelected | |||
invention or inventions. Where such withdrawn | |||
claims have been canceled by applicant pursuant to | |||
the restriction requirement, upon the allowance of the | |||
linking claim(s), the examiner must notify applicant | |||
that any canceled, nonelected claim(s) which depends | |||
from or requires all the limitations of the allowable | |||
linking claim may be reinstated by submitting the | |||
claim(s) in an amendment. Upon entry of the amendment, | |||
the amended claim(s) will be fully examined for | |||
patentability. See MPEP § 821.04 for additional information | |||
regarding rejoinder. | |||
809.02(a)Election of Species Required | |||
[R-3] | |||
Where restriction between species is appropriate | |||
(see MPEP § 808.01(a)) the examiner should | |||
send a letter including only a restriction requirement | |||
or place a telephone requirement to restrict (the latter | |||
being encouraged). See MPEP § | |||
812.01 for telephone | |||
practice in restriction requirements. | |||
Action as follows should be taken: | |||
(A)Identify generic claims or indicate that no | |||
generic claims are present. See MPEP § 806.04(d) for | |||
definition of a generic claim. | |||
(B)Clearly identify each (or in aggravated cases | |||
at least exemplary ones) of the disclosed species, to | |||
which claims are to be restricted. The species are | |||
preferably identified as the species of figures 1, 2, and | |||
3 or the species of examples I, II, and III, respectively. | |||
In the absence of distinct figures or examples to identify | |||
the several species, the mechanical means, the | |||
particular material, or other distinguishing characteristic | |||
of the species should be stated for each species | |||
identified. If the species cannot be conveniently identified, | |||
the claims may be grouped in accordance with | |||
the species to which they are restricted. Provide reasons | |||
why the species are independent or distinct. | |||
(C)Applicant should then be required to elect a | |||
single disclosed species under 35 U.S.C. 121, and | |||
advised as to the requisites of a complete reply and his | |||
or her rights under 37 CFR 1.141. | |||
To be complete, a reply to a requirement made | |||
according to this section should include a proper election | |||
along with a listing of all claims readable thereon, | |||
including any claims subsequently added. | |||
In those applications wherein a requirement for | |||
restriction is accompanied by an action on the | |||
elected claims, such action will be considered to be | |||
an action on the merits and the next action may be | |||
made final where appropriate in accordance with | |||
MPEP § 706.07(a). | |||
For treatment of claims held to be drawn to nonelected | |||
inventions, see MPEP § 821 et seq. | |||
¶ 8.01 Election of Species; Species Claim(s) Present | |||
This application contains claims directed to the following patentably | |||
distinct species [1]. The species are independent or distinct | |||
because [2]. | |||
Applicant is required under 35 U.S.C. 121 to elect a single disclosed | |||
species for prosecution on the merits to which the claims | |||
shall be restricted if no generic claim is finally held to be allowable. | |||
Currently, [3] generic. | |||
Applicant is advised that a reply to this requirement must | |||
include an identification of the species that is elected consonant | |||
with this requirement, and a listing of all claims readable thereon, | |||
including any claims subsequently added. An argument that a | |||
claim is allowable or that all claims are generic is considered nonresponsive | |||
unless accompanied by an election. | |||
Upon the allowance of a generic claim, applicant will be entitled | |||
to consideration of claims to additional species which depend | |||
from or otherwise require all the limitations of an allowable | |||
generic claim as provided by 37 CFR 1.141. If claims are added | |||
after the election, applicant must indicate which are readable upon | |||
the elected species. MPEP § 809.02(a). | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.In bracket 1, identify the species from which an election is to | |||
be made. | |||
2.In bracket 2, explain why the inventions are independent or | |||
distinct. See, e.g., form paragraphs 8.14.01 and 8.20.02. | |||
3.In bracket 3 insert the appropriate generic claim information. | |||
4.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01-8.21.03. | |||
¶ 8.02 Election of Species; No Species Claim Present | |||
Claim [1] generic to the following disclosed patentably distinct | |||
species: [2]. The species are independent or distinct because [3]. | |||
Applicant is required under 35 U.S.C. 121 to elect a single disclosed | |||
species, even though this requirement is traversed. Applicant | |||
is advised that a reply to this requirement must include an | |||
identification of the species that is elected consonant with this | |||
requirement, and a listing of all claims readable thereon, including | |||
any claims subsequently added. An argument that a claim is | |||
allowable or that all claims are generic is considered nonresponsive | |||
unless accompanied by an election. | |||
Upon the allowance of a generic claim, applicant will be entitled | |||
to consideration of claims to additional species which depend | |||
from or otherwise require all the limitations of an allowable | |||
generic claim as provided by 37 CFR 1.141. If claims are added | |||
after the election, applicant must indicate which are readable upon | |||
the elected species. MPEP § 809.02(a). | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph should be used for the election of | |||
requirement described in MPEP § 803.02 (Markush group) and | |||
MPEP § 808.01(a) where only generic claims are presented. | |||
2.In bracket 2, clearly identify the species from which an election | |||
is to be made. | |||
3.In bracket 3, explain why the inventions are independent or | |||
distinct. See, e.g., form paragraphs 8.14.01 and 8.20.02. | |||
4.Conclude restriction requirement with one of form paragraphs | |||
8.21.01-8.21.03. | |||
809.03Restriction Between Linked | |||
Inventions [R-5] | |||
Where an application includes two or more otherwise | |||
properly divisible inventions that are linked by a | |||
claim which, if allowable, would require rejoinder | |||
(See MPEP § 809 and § 821.04), the examiner | |||
should require restriction, either by a written Office | |||
action that includes only a restriction requirement or | |||
by a telephoned requirement to restrict (the latter | |||
being encouraged). Examiners should use form paragraph | |||
8.12 to make restrictions involving linking | |||
claims when the linking claim is other than a genus | |||
claim linking species inventions. When the linking | |||
claim is a genus claim linking species inventions, | |||
examiners should use form paragraph 8.01 or 8.02(see MPEP § 809.02(a)). | |||
¶ 8.12 Restriction, Linking Claims | |||
Claim [1] link(s) inventions [2] and [3]. The restriction | |||
requirement [4] the linked inventions is subject to the nonallowance | |||
of the linking claim(s), claim [5]. Upon the indication of | |||
allowability of the linking claim(s), the restriction requirement as | |||
to the linked inventions shall be withdrawn and any claim(s) | |||
depending from or otherwise requiring all the limitations of the | |||
allowable linking claim(s) will be rejoined and fully examined for | |||
patentability in accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. Claims that | |||
require all the limitations of an allowable linking claim will be | |||
entered as a matter of right if the amendment is presented prior to | |||
final rejection or allowance, whichever is earlier. Amendments | |||
submitted after final rejection are governed by 37 CFR 1.116; | |||
amendments submitted after allowance are governed by 37 CFR | |||
1.312. | |||
Applicant(s) are advised that if any claim presented in a continuation | |||
or divisional application is anticipated by, or includes all | |||
the limitations of, the allowable linking claim, such claim may be | |||
subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejections over the claims of the instant application. | |||
Where a restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of | |||
35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d | |||
1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph must be included in any restriction | |||
requirement with at least one linking claim present. | |||
2.In bracket 4, insert either --between-- or --among--. | |||
3.In bracket 5, insert the claim number(s) of the linking claims. | |||
4.See related form paragraphs 8.45, 8.46 and 8.47. | |||
Where the requirement for restriction in an application | |||
is predicated upon the nonallowability of generic | |||
or other type of linking claims, applicant is entitled to | |||
retain in the application claims to the nonelected | |||
invention or inventions. | |||
For traverse of a restriction requirement with linking | |||
claims, see MPEP § 818.03(d). | |||
For treatment of claims held to be drawn to nonelected | |||
inventions, see MPEP § 821 et seq. | |||
810Action on the Merits [R-3] | |||
In general, in an application when only a nonfinal | |||
written requirement to restrict is made, no action | |||
on the merits is given. A 1-month (not less than 30 | |||
days) shortened statutory period will be set for reply | |||
when a written restriction requirement is made without | |||
an action on the merits. This period may be | |||
extended under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). | |||
The Office action making the restriction requirement | |||
final ordinarily includes an action on the merits of the | |||
claims of the elected invention. See 37 CFR 1.143. In | |||
those applications wherein a requirement for restriction | |||
or election is made via telephone and applicant | |||
makes an oral election of a single invention, the written | |||
record of the restriction requirement will be | |||
accompanied by a complete action on the merits of | |||
the elected claims. See MPEP § 812.01. When preparing | |||
a final action in an application where applicant | |||
has traversed the restriction requirement, see MPEP § | |||
821.01. | |||
811Time for Making Requirement | |||
[R-3] | |||
37 CFR 1.142(a), second sentence, indicates | |||
that a restriction requirement “will normally be | |||
made before any action upon the merits; however, it | |||
may be made at any time before final action .” This | |||
means the examiner should make a proper requirement | |||
as early as | |||
possible | |||
in the prosecution, in the | |||
first action if possible, otherwise, as soon as the need | |||
for a proper requirement develops. | |||
Before making a restriction requirement after the | |||
first action on the merits, the examiner will consider | |||
whether there will be a serious burden if restriction is | |||
not required. | |||
811.02New Requirement After | |||
Compliance With Preceding Requirement | |||
[R-3] | |||
Since 37 CFR 1.142(a) provides that restriction is | |||
proper at any stage of prosecution up to final action, a | |||
second requirement may be made when it becomes | |||
proper, even though there was a prior requirement | |||
with which applicant complied. Ex parte Benke, 1904 | |||
C.D. 63, 108 O.G. 1588 (Comm’r Pat. 1904). | |||
811.03Repeating After Withdrawal | |||
Proper [R-3] | |||
Where a requirement to restrict is made and thereafter | |||
withdrawn as improper, if restriction | |||
becomes proper at a later stage in the prosecution, | |||
restriction may again be required. | |||
811.04Proper Even Though Grouped | |||
Together in Parent Application | |||
Even though inventions are grouped together in a | |||
requirement in a parent application, restriction or | |||
election among the inventions may be required in the | |||
divisional applications, if proper. | |||
812Who Should Make the Requirement | |||
[R-3] | |||
The requirement should be made by an examiner | |||
who would examine at least one of the inventions. | |||
An examiner should not require restriction in an | |||
application if none of the claimed inventions is | |||
classifiable in his or her Technology Center. Such an | |||
application should be transferred to a Technology | |||
Center wherein at least one of the claimed inventions | |||
would be examined. | |||
812.01Telephone Restriction Practice[R-3] | |||
If an examiner determines that a requirement for | |||
restriction should be made in an application, the | |||
examiner should formulate a draft of such restriction | |||
requirement including an indication of those claims | |||
considered to be linking or generic. Thereupon, the | |||
examiner should telephone the attorney or agent of | |||
record and request an oral election, with or without | |||
traverse , after the attorney or agent has had time to | |||
consider the restriction requirement. However, no | |||
telephone communication need be made where the | |||
requirement for restriction is complex, the application | |||
is being prosecuted by the applicant pro se, or the | |||
examiner knows from past experience that an election | |||
will not be made by telephone. The examiner should | |||
arrange for a second telephone call within a reasonable | |||
time, generally within 3 working days. If the | |||
attorney or agent objects to making an oral election, | |||
or fails to respond, a restriction letter will be | |||
mailed, and this letter should contain reference to the | |||
unsuccessful telephone call. When an oral election | |||
is made, the examiner will then proceed to incorporate | |||
into the Office action a formal restriction requirement | |||
including the date of the election, the attorney’s or | |||
agent’s name, and a complete record of the telephone | |||
interview, followed by a complete action on the | |||
elected invention as claimed, including linking or | |||
generic claims if present. | |||
Form paragraphs 8.23 or 8.23.01 should be used to | |||
make a telephone election of record. | |||
¶ 8.23 Requirement, When Elected by Telephone | |||
During a telephone conversation with [1] on [2] a provisional | |||
election was made [3] traverse to prosecute the invention of [4], | |||
claim [5]. Affirmation of this election must be made by applicant | |||
in replying to this Office action. Claim [6] withdrawn from further | |||
consideration by the examiner, 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn | |||
to a non-elected invention. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.In bracket 3, insert --with-- or --without--, whichever is | |||
applicable. | |||
2.In bracket 4, insert either the elected group or species. | |||
3.An action on the merits of the claims to the elected invention | |||
should follow. | |||
¶ 8.23.01 Requirement, No Election by Telephone | |||
A telephone call was made to [1] on [2] to request an oral election | |||
to the above restriction requirement, but did not result in an | |||
election being made. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.In bracket 1, insert the name of the applicant or attorney or | |||
agent contacted. | |||
2.In bracket 2, insert the date(s) of the telephone contact(s). | |||
3.This form paragraph should be used in all instances where a | |||
telephone election was attempted and the applicant’s representative | |||
did not or would not make an election. | |||
4.This form paragraph should not be used if no contact was | |||
made with applicant or applicant’s representative. | |||
If, on examination, the examiner finds the claims | |||
to an invention elected without traverse to be | |||
allowable and no nonelected invention is eligible | |||
for rejoinder (see MPEP § 821.04), the letter should | |||
be attached to the Notice of Allowability form PTOL- | |||
37 and should include cancellation of the nonelected | |||
claims, a statement that the prosecution is closed, and | |||
that a notice of allowance will be sent in due course. | |||
Correction of formal matters in the above-noted situation | |||
which cannot be handled by a telephone call and | |||
thus requires action by the applicant should be handled | |||
under the Ex parte Quayle practice, using Office | |||
Action Summary form PTOL-326. | |||
Should the elected invention as claimed be | |||
found allowable in the first action, and an oral | |||
traverse was noted, the examiner should include in his | |||
or her action a statement under MPEP § 821.01, making | |||
the restriction requirement final and giving | |||
applicant 1 month to either cancel the claims | |||
drawn to the nonelected invention or take other | |||
appropriate action. (37 | |||
CFR 1.144). Failure to take | |||
action will be treated as an authorization to cancel the | |||
nonelected claims by an examiner’s amendment and | |||
pass the application to issue. Prosecution of the application | |||
is otherwise closed. | |||
In either situation (traverse or no traverse), caution | |||
should be exercised to determine if any of the | |||
allowable claims are linking or generic claims , | |||
or if any nonelected inventions are eligible for rejoinder | |||
(see MPEP § 821.04), before canceling | |||
claims drawn to the nonelected invention. | |||
Where the respective inventions would be | |||
examined in different Technology Centers (TCs), the | |||
requirement for restriction should be made only after | |||
consultation with and approval by all TCs involved. If | |||
an oral election would cause the application to be | |||
examined in another TC, the initiating TC should | |||
transfer the application with a signed memorandum of | |||
the restriction requirement and a record of the interview. | |||
The receiving TC will incorporate the substance | |||
of this memorandum in its official letter as indicated | |||
above. Differences as to restriction should be settled | |||
by the existing chain of command, e.g., supervisory | |||
patent examiner or TC director. | |||
This practice is limited to use by examiners who | |||
have at least negotiation authority. Other examiners | |||
must have the prior approval of their supervisory | |||
patent examiner. | |||
814Indicate Exactly How Application | |||
Is To Be Restricted [R-3] | |||
The examiner must provide a clear and detailed | |||
record of the restriction requirement to provide a clear | |||
demarcation between restricted inventions so that it | |||
can be determined whether inventions claimed in a | |||
continuing application are consonant with the restriction | |||
requirement and therefore subject to the prohibition | |||
against double patenting rejections under 35 | |||
U.S.C. 121. Geneva Pharms. Inc. v. GlaxoSmithKline | |||
PLC, 349 F.3d 1373, 1381, 68 USPQ2d 1865, 1871 | |||
(Fed. Cir. 2003). See also MPEP § 804.01. | |||
I. SPECIES | |||
The mode of indicating how to require restriction | |||
between species is set forth in MPEP § 809.02(a). | |||
The particular limitations in the claims and | |||
the reasons why such limitations are considered to | |||
support restriction of the claims to a particular | |||
disclosed species should be mentioned to make the | |||
requirement clear. | |||
II. INVENTIONS OTHER THAN SPECIES | |||
It is necessary to read all of the claims to determine | |||
what the claims cover. When doing this, the | |||
claims directed to each separate invention should | |||
be noted along with a statement of the invention | |||
to which they are drawn. | |||
In setting forth the restriction requirement, separate | |||
inventions should be identified by a grouping of | |||
the claims with a short description of the total extent | |||
of the invention claimed in each group, specifying the | |||
type or relationship of each group as by stating the | |||
group is drawn to a process, or to a subcombination, | |||
or to a product, etc., and should indicate the classification | |||
or separate status of each group, as for example, | |||
by class and subclass. See MPEP § 817 for additional | |||
guidance. | |||
While every claim should be accounted for, the | |||
omission to group a claim, or placing a claim in the | |||
wrong group will not affect the propriety of a final | |||
requirement where the requirement is otherwise | |||
proper and the correct disposition of the omitted or | |||
erroneously grouped claim is clear. | |||
III. LINKING CLAIMS | |||
The generic or other linking claims should not be | |||
associated with any one of the linked inventions since | |||
such claims must be examined with the elected | |||
invention. See MPEP § 809. | |||
815Make Requirement Complete [R-3] | |||
When making a restriction requirement every | |||
effort should be made to have the requirement com | |||
plete. If some of the claimed inventions are classifiable | |||
in another art unit and the examiner has any | |||
doubt as to the proper line among the same, the application | |||
should be referred to the examiner of the other | |||
art unit for information on that point and such examiner | |||
should render the necessary assistance. | |||
817Outline of Letter for Restriction | |||
Requirement [R-5] | |||
The following outline should be used to set forth a | |||
requirement to restrict. | |||
OUTLINE OF RESTRICTION REQUIRE- | |||
MENT | |||
(A)Statement of the requirement to restrict and | |||
that it is being made under 35 U.S.C. 121 | |||
(1)Identify each group by Roman numeral. | |||
(2)List claims in each group. Check accuracy | |||
of numbering of the claims; look for same claims in | |||
two groups; and look for omitted claims. | |||
(3)Give short description of total extent of the | |||
subject matter claimed in each group, pointing out | |||
critical claims of different scope and identifying | |||
whether the claims are directed to a combination, subcombination, | |||
process, apparatus, or product. | |||
(4)Classify each group. | |||
Form paragraphs 8.08-8.11 should be used to group | |||
inventions. | |||
¶ 8.08 Restriction, Two Groupings | |||
Restriction to one of the following inventions is required under | |||
35 U.S.C. 121: | |||
I.Claim [1], drawn to [2], classified in class [3], subclass | |||
[4]. | |||
II.Claim [5], drawn to [6], classified in class [7], subclass [8]. | |||
¶ 8.09 Restriction, 3rd Grouping | |||
III.Claim [1], drawn to [2], classified in class [3], subclass | |||
[4]. | |||
¶ 8.10 Restriction, 4th Grouping | |||
IV.Claim [1], drawn to [2], classified in class [3], subclass | |||
[4]. | |||
¶ 8.11 Restriction, Additional Groupings | |||
[1].Claim[2], drawn to [3], classified in class [4], subclass [5]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
In bracket 1, insert the appropriate roman numeral, e.g., --V--, - | |||
-VI--, etc. | |||
If restriction is required between species, form | |||
paragraph 8.01 or 8.02 should be used to set forth the | |||
patentably distinct species and reasons for holding the | |||
species are independent or distinct. See MPEP | |||
§ | |||
809.02(a). | |||
(B)Take into account claims not grouped, indicating | |||
their disposition. | |||
(1)Linking claims | |||
(i)Identify | |||
(ii)Statement of groups to which linking | |||
claims may be assigned for examination | |||
(2)Other ungrouped claims | |||
(3)Indicate disposition, e.g., improperly | |||
dependent, canceled, etc. | |||
(C)Allegation of independence or distinctness | |||
(1)Point out facts which show independence | |||
or distinctness | |||
(2)Treat the inventions as claimed, don’t | |||
merely state the conclusion that inventions in fact are | |||
independent or distinct, e.g., | |||
(i)Subcombination - Subcombination disclosed | |||
as usable together | |||
Each usable alone or in other identified combination | |||
Demonstrate by examiner’s suggestion | |||
(ii)Combination - Subcombination | |||
Combination as claimed does not require | |||
subcombination | |||
AND | |||
Subcombination usable alone or in other | |||
combination | |||
Demonstrate by examiner’s suggestion | |||
(iii)Process - Apparatus | |||
Process can be carried out by hand or by | |||
other apparatus | |||
Demonstrate by examiner’s suggestion | |||
OR | |||
Demonstrate apparatus can be used in other | |||
process (rare). | |||
(iv)Process of making and/or Apparatus for | |||
making — Product made | |||
Claimed product can be made by other process | |||
(or apparatus) | |||
Demonstrate by examiner’s suggestion | |||
OR | |||
Demonstrate process of making (or apparatus | |||
for making) can produce other product (rare) | |||
(D)Provide reasons for insisting upon restriction | |||
(1)Separate status in the art | |||
(2)Different classification | |||
(3)Same classification but recognition of | |||
divergent subject matter | |||
(4)Divergent fields of search, or | |||
(5)Search required for one group not required | |||
for the other | |||
(E)Summary statement | |||
(1)Summarize (i) independence or distinctness | |||
and (ii) reasons for insisting upon restriction | |||
(2)Include paragraph advising as to reply | |||
required | |||
(3)Indicate effect of allowance of linking | |||
claims, if any present | |||
(4)Indicate effect of cancellation of evidence | |||
claims (see MPEP § 806.05(c)) | |||
(5)Indicate effect of allowance of product | |||
claims if restriction was required between a product | |||
and a process of making and/or using the product. | |||
Form paragraphs 8.14-8.20.02 may be used as | |||
appropriate to set forth the reasons for the holding of | |||
independence or distinctness. Form paragraph 8.13may be used as a heading. | |||
¶ 8.13 Distinctness (Heading) | |||
The inventions are independent or distinct, each from the other | |||
because: | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
This form paragraph should be followed by one of form paragraphs | |||
8.14-8.20.02 to show independence or distinctness. | |||
One of form paragraphs 8.21.01 through 8.21.03must be used at the conclusion of each restriction | |||
requirement. | |||
¶ 8.21.01 Conclusion to All Restriction Requirements: | |||
Different Classification | |||
Because these inventions are independent or distinct for the | |||
reasons given above and there would be a serious burden on the | |||
examiner if restriction is not required because the inventions have | |||
acquired a separate status in the art in view of their different classification, | |||
restriction for examination purposes as indicated is | |||
proper. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
THIS FORM PARAGRAPH (OR ONE OF FORM PARAGRAPHS | |||
8.21.02 OR 8.21.03) MUST BE ADDED AS A CONCLUSION | |||
TO ALL RESTRICTION REQUIREMENTS | |||
employing any of form paragraphs 8.01, 8.02, or 8.14 to 8.20.03. | |||
¶ 8.21.02 Conclusion to All Restriction Requirements: | |||
Recognized Divergent Subject Matter | |||
Because these inventions are independent or distinct for the | |||
reasons given above and there would be a serious burden on the | |||
examiner if restriction is not required because the inventions have | |||
acquired a separate status in the art due to their recognized divergent | |||
subject matter, restriction for examination purposes as indicated | |||
is proper. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
THIS FORM PARAGRAPH (OR ONE OF FORM PARAGRAPHS | |||
8.21.01 OR 8.21.03) MUST BE ADDED AS A CONCLUSION | |||
TO ALL RESTRICTION REQUIREMENTS | |||
employing any of form paragraphs 8.01, 8.02, or 8.14 to 8.20.03. | |||
¶ 8.21.03 Conclusion to All Restriction Requirements: | |||
Different Search | |||
Because these inventions are independent or distinct for the | |||
reasons given above and there would be a serious burden on the | |||
examiner if restriction is not required because the inventions | |||
require a different field of search (see MPEP § 808.02), restriction | |||
for examination purposes as indicated is proper. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
THIS FORM PARAGRAPH (OR ONE OF FORM PARAGRAPHS | |||
8.21.01 OR 8.21.02) MUST BE ADDED AS A CONCLUSION | |||
TO ALL RESTRICTION REQUIREMENTS | |||
employing any of form paragraphs 8.01, 8.02, or 8.14 to 8.20.03. | |||
Form paragraph 8.23.02 must be included in all | |||
restriction requirements for applications having joint | |||
inventors. | |||
¶ 8.23.02 Joint Inventors, Correction of Inventorship | |||
Applicant is reminded that upon the cancellation of claims to a | |||
non-elected invention, the inventorship must be amended in compliance | |||
with 37 CFR 1.48(b) if one or more of the currently | |||
named inventors is no longer an inventor of at least one claim | |||
remaining in the application. Any amendment of inventorship | |||
must be accompanied by a request under 37 CFR 1.48(b) and by | |||
the fee required under 37 CFR 1.17(i). | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
This form paragraph must be included in all restriction requirements | |||
for applications having joint inventors. | |||
818Election and Reply [R-3] | |||
Election is the designation of the particular one of | |||
two or more disclosed inventions that will be prosecuted | |||
in the application. | |||
A reply should be made to each point raised by the | |||
examiner’s action, and may include a traverse or compliance. | |||
A traverse of a requirement to restrict is a statement | |||
of the reasons upon which the applicant relies for his | |||
or her conclusion that the requirement is in error. | |||
Where a rejection or objection is included with a | |||
restriction requirement, applicant, besides making a | |||
proper election must also distinctly and specifically | |||
point out the supposed errors in the examiner’s rejection | |||
or objection. See 37 CFR 1.111. | |||
818.01Election Fixed by Action on | |||
Claims | |||
Election becomes fixed when the claims in an | |||
application have received an action on their merits by | |||
the Office. | |||
818.02Election Other Than Express | |||
Election may be made in other ways than expressly | |||
in reply to a requirement as set forth in MPEP | |||
§ | |||
818.02(a) and § 818.02(c). | |||
818.02(a)By Originally Presented Claims | |||
Where claims to another invention are properly | |||
added and entered in the application before an action | |||
is given, they are treated as original claims for purposes | |||
of restriction only. | |||
The claims originally presented and acted upon by | |||
the Office on their merits determine the invention | |||
elected by an applicant in the application, and in any | |||
request for continued examination (RCE) which has | |||
been filed for the application. Subsequently presented | |||
claims to an invention other than that acted upon | |||
should be treated as provided in MPEP § 821.03. | |||
818.02(b)Generic Claims Only — No | |||
Election of Species [R-3] | |||
Where only generic claims are first presented and | |||
prosecuted in an application in which no election of a | |||
single invention has been made, and applicant later | |||
presents species claims to more than one patentably | |||
distinct species of the invention, the examiner | |||
may require applicant to elect a single species. The | |||
practice of requiring election of species in cases with | |||
only generic claims of the unduly extensive and burdensome | |||
search type is set forth in MPEP § 808.01(a). | |||
818.02(c)By Optional Cancellation of | |||
Claims | |||
Where applicant is claiming two or more inventions | |||
(which may be species or various types of related | |||
inventions) and as a result of action on the claims, he | |||
or she cancels the claims to one or more of such | |||
inventions, leaving claims to one invention, and such | |||
claims are acted upon by the examiner, the claimed | |||
invention thus acted upon is elected. | |||
818.03Express Election and Traverse[R-3] | |||
37 CFR 1.143. Reconsideration of requirement. | |||
If the applicant disagrees with the requirement for restriction, | |||
he may request reconsideration and withdrawal or modification of | |||
the requirement, giving the reasons therefor. (See § 1.111). In | |||
requesting reconsideration the applicant must indicate a provisional | |||
election of one invention for prosecution, which invention | |||
shall be the one elected in the event the requirement becomes | |||
final. The requirement for restriction will be reconsidered on such | |||
a request. If the requirement is repeated and made final, the examiner | |||
will at the same time act on the claims to the invention | |||
elected. | |||
Election in reply to a requirement may be made | |||
either with or without an accompanying traverse of | |||
the requirement. | |||
Applicant must make his or her own election; the | |||
examiner will not make the election for the applicant. | |||
37 CFR 1.142, 37 CFR 1.143. | |||
818.03(a)Reply Must Be Complete | |||
As shown by the first sentence of 37 CFR 1.143, | |||
the traverse to a requirement must be complete as | |||
required by 37 CFR 1.111(b) which reads in part: “In | |||
order to be entitled to reconsideration or further | |||
examination, the applicant or patent owner must reply | |||
to the Office action. The reply by the applicant or | |||
patent owner must be reduced to a writing which distinctly | |||
and specifically points out the supposed errors | |||
in the examiner’s action and must reply to every | |||
ground of objection and rejection in the prior Office | |||
action. . . . The applicant’s or patent owner’s reply | |||
must appear throughout to be a bona fide attempt to | |||
advance the application or the reexamination proceeding | |||
to final action. . . .” | |||
Under this rule, the applicant is required to specifically | |||
point out the reasons on which he or she bases | |||
his or her conclusions that a requirement to restrict is | |||
in error. A mere broad allegation that the requirement | |||
is in error does not comply with the requirement of | |||
37 | |||
CFR § 1.111. Thus the required provisional election | |||
(see MPEP § 818.03(b)) becomes an election | |||
without traverse. | |||
818.03(b)Must Elect, Even When Re- | |||
quirement Is Traversed [R-3] | |||
As noted in the second sentence of 37 CFR 1.143, | |||
a provisional election must be made even though the | |||
requirement is traversed. | |||
All requirements for restriction should include form | |||
paragraph 8.22. | |||
¶ 8.22 Requirement for Election and Means for Traversal | |||
Applicant is advised that the reply to this requirement to be | |||
complete must include (i) an election of a species or invention to | |||
be examined even though the requirement be traversed (37 CFR | |||
1.143) and (ii) identification of the claims encompassing the | |||
elected invention. | |||
The election of an invention or species may be made with or | |||
without traverse. To reserve a right to petition, the election must | |||
be made with traverse. If the reply does not distinctly and specifically | |||
point out supposed errors in the restriction requirement, the | |||
election shall be treated as an election without traverse. | |||
Should applicant traverse on the ground that the inventions or | |||
species are not patentably distinct, applicant should submit evidence | |||
or identify such evidence now of record showing the inventions | |||
or species to be obvious variants or clearly admit on the | |||
record that this is the case. In either instance, if the examiner finds | |||
one of the inventions unpatentable over the prior art, the evidence | |||
or admission may be used in a rejection under 35 U.S.C.103(a) of | |||
the other invention. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
This form paragraph must be used in Office actions containing | |||
a restriction requirement with or without an action on the merits. | |||
818.03(c)Must Traverse To Preserve | |||
Right of Petition [R-3] | |||
37 CFR 1.144. Petition from requirement for restriction. | |||
After a final requirement for restriction, the applicant, in | |||
addition to making any reply due on the remainder of the action, | |||
may petition the Director to review the requirement. Petition may | |||
be deferred until after final action on or allowance of claims to the | |||
invention elected, but must be filed not later than appeal. A petition | |||
will not be considered if reconsideration of the requirement | |||
was not requested (see § 1.181). | |||
If applicant does not distinctly and specifically | |||
point out supposed errors in the restriction requirement, | |||
the election should be treated as an election | |||
without traverse and be so indicated to the applicant | |||
by use of form paragraph 8.25.02. | |||
¶ 8.25.02 Election Without Traverse Based on Incomplete | |||
Reply | |||
Applicant’s election of [1] in the reply filed on [2] is | |||
acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically | |||
point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, | |||
the election has been treated as an election without traverse | |||
(MPEP § 818.03(a)). | |||
818.03(d)Traverse of Restriction | |||
Requirement With Linking | |||
Claims [R-3] | |||
Election of a single invention in reply to a restriction | |||
requirement, combined with a traverse of | |||
only the nonallowance of the linking claims, is | |||
an agreement with the position taken by the Office | |||
that restriction is proper if the linking claim is not | |||
allowable and improper if it is allowable. If the | |||
Office allows such a claim, it is bound to withdraw | |||
the requirement and to act on all linked inventions | |||
which depend from or otherwise require all the limitations | |||
of the allowable linking claim. But once all | |||
linking claims are canceled 37 CFR 1.144 would not | |||
apply, since the record would be one of agreement as | |||
to the propriety of restriction. | |||
Where, however, there is a traverse on the ground | |||
that there is some relationship (other than and in addition | |||
to the linking claim) that also prevents restriction, | |||
the merits of the requirement are contested and | |||
not admitted. If restriction is made final in spite of | |||
such traverse, the right to petition is preserved even | |||
though all linking claims are canceled. When a final | |||
restriction requirement is contingent on the nonallowability | |||
of the linking claims, applicant may petition | |||
from the requirement under 37 CFR 1.144without waiting for a final action on the merits of the | |||
linking claims or applicant may defer his or her petition | |||
until the linking claims have been finally | |||
rejected, but not later than appeal. See 37 CFR 1.144and MPEP § 818.03(c). | |||
819Office Generally Does Not Permit | |||
Shift [R-3] | |||
The general policy of the Office is not to permit the | |||
applicant to shift to claiming another invention after | |||
an election is once made and action given on the | |||
elected subject matter. Note that the applicant cannot, | |||
as a matter of right, file a request for continued examination | |||
(RCE) to obtain continued examination on the | |||
basis of claims that are independent and distinct from | |||
the claims previously claimed and examined (i.e., | |||
applicant cannot switch inventions by way of an RCE | |||
as a matter of right). When claims are presented | |||
which the examiner holds are drawn to an invention | |||
other than the one elected, he or she should treat the | |||
claims as outlined in MPEP § 821.03. | |||
Where a continued prosecution application (CPA) | |||
filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d) is a continuation of its | |||
parent application and not a divisional, an express | |||
election made in the prior (parent) application in reply | |||
to a restriction requirement carries over to the CPA | |||
unless otherwise indicated by applicant. In no other | |||
type of continuing application does an election | |||
carry over from the prior application. See Bristol- | |||
Myers Squibb Co. v. Pharmachemie BV, 361 F.3d | |||
1343, 1348, 70 USPQ2d 1097, 1100 (Fed. Cir. | |||
2004)(An original restriction requirement in an earlier | |||
filed application does not carry over to claims of a | |||
continuation application in which the examiner does | |||
not reinstate or refer to the restriction requirement in | |||
the parent application.). | |||
Where a genus claim is allowable, applicant may | |||
prosecute a reasonable number of additional species | |||
claims thereunder, in accordance with 37 CFR 1.141. | |||
Where an interference is instituted prior to an applicant’s | |||
election, the subject matter of the interference | |||
issues is not elected. An applicant may, after the termination | |||
of the interference, elect any one of the | |||
inventions claimed. | |||
821Treatment of Claims Held To Be | |||
Drawn to Nonelected Inventions[R-3] | |||
Claims held to be drawn to nonelected inventions, | |||
including claims drawn to nonelected species or | |||
inventions that may be eligible for rejoinder, are | |||
treated as indicated in MPEP § 821.01 through | |||
§ | |||
821.04. | |||
The propriety of a requirement to restrict, if traversed, | |||
is reviewable by petition under 37 CFR 1.144. | |||
In re Hengehold, 440 F.2d 1395, 169 USPQ 473 | |||
(CCPA 1971). | |||
All claims that the examiner holds as not being | |||
directed to the elected subject matter are withdrawn | |||
from further consideration by the examiner in accordance | |||
with 37 CFR 1.142(b). See MPEP § 821.01through § | |||
821.04. The examiner should clearly set | |||
forth in the Office action the reasons why the claims | |||
withdrawn from consideration are not readable on the | |||
elected invention. Applicant may traverse the requirement | |||
pursuant to 37 CFR 1.143. If a final requirement | |||
for restriction is made by the examiner, applicant may | |||
file a petition under 37 | |||
CFR 1.144 for review of the | |||
restriction requirement. | |||
821.01After Election With Traverse[R-3] | |||
Where the initial requirement is traversed, it should | |||
be reconsidered. If, upon reconsideration, the examiner | |||
is still of the opinion that restriction is proper, it | |||
should be repeated and made final in the next Office | |||
action. (See MPEP § 803.01.) In doing so, the examiner | |||
should reply to the reasons or arguments | |||
advanced by applicant in the traverse. Form paragraph | |||
8.25 should be used to make a restriction requirement | |||
final. | |||
¶ 8.25 Answer to Arguments With Traverse | |||
Applicant’s election with traverse of [1] in the reply filed on | |||
[2] is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that [3]. | |||
This is not found persuasive because [4]. | |||
The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made | |||
FINAL. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.In bracket 1, insert the invention elected. | |||
2.In bracket 3, insert in summary form, the ground(s) on which | |||
traversal is based. | |||
3.In bracket 4, insert the reasons why the traversal was not | |||
found to be persuasive. | |||
If the examiner, upon reconsideration, is of the | |||
opinion that the requirement for restriction is | |||
improper in whole or in part, he or she should | |||
clearly state in the next Office action that the | |||
requirement for restriction is withdrawn in whole | |||
or in part, specify which groups have been rejoined, | |||
and give an action on the merits of all the claims | |||
directed to the elected invention and any invention | |||
rejoined with the elected invention. | |||
If the requirement is repeated and made final, in | |||
that and in each subsequent action, the claims to the | |||
nonelected invention should be treated by using form | |||
paragraph 8.05. | |||
¶ 8.05 Claims Stand Withdrawn With Traverse | |||
Claim [1] withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 | |||
CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected [2], there being no | |||
allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the | |||
restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on [3]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
In bracket 2, insert --invention-- or --species--. | |||
This will show that applicant has retained the right | |||
to petition from the requirement under 37 CFR 1.144. | |||
(See MPEP § 818.03(c).) | |||
When the application is otherwise in condition | |||
for allowance, and has not received a final | |||
action, the examiner should notify applicant of his | |||
or her options using form paragraph 8.03. | |||
¶ 8.03 In Condition for Allowance, Non-elected Claims | |||
Withdrawn with Traverse | |||
This application is in condition for allowance except for the | |||
presence of claim [1] directed to an invention non-elected with | |||
traverse in the reply filed on [2]. Applicant is given ONE | |||
MONTH or THIRTY DAYS from the date of this letter, whichever | |||
is longer, to cancel the noted claims or take other appropriate | |||
action (37 CFR 1.144). Failure to take action during this period | |||
will be treated as authorization to cancel the noted claims by | |||
Examiner’s Amendment and pass the case to issue. Extensions of | |||
time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) will not be permitted since this application | |||
will be passed to issue. | |||
The prosecution of this case is closed except for consideration | |||
of the above matter. | |||
See also MPEP § 821.04 - § 821.04(b) for rejoinder | |||
of certain nonelected inventions when the claims to | |||
the elected invention are allowable. | |||
When preparing a final action in an application | |||
where there has been a traversal of a requirement for | |||
restriction, the examiner should indicate in the Office | |||
action that a complete reply must include cancellation | |||
of the claims drawn to the nonelected invention, or | |||
other appropriate action (37 CFR 1.144). See form | |||
paragraph 8.24. | |||
¶ 8.24 Reply to Final Must Include Cancellation of Claims | |||
Non-elected with Traverse | |||
This application contains claim [1] drawn to an invention nonelected | |||
with traverse in the reply filed on [2]. A complete reply to | |||
the final rejection must include cancellation of nonelected claims | |||
or other appropriate action (37 CFR 1.144). See MPEP § 821.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
For use in FINAL rejections of applications containing claims | |||
drawn to an invention non-elected with traverse. | |||
Where a reply to a final action has otherwise placed | |||
the application in condition for allowance, the failure | |||
to cancel claims drawn to the nonelected invention( | |||
s) not eligible for rejoinder or to take appropriate | |||
action will be construed as authorization to cancel | |||
these claims by examiner’s amendment and pass the | |||
application to issue after the expiration of the period | |||
for reply. | |||
Note that the petition under 37 CFR 1.144 must be | |||
filed not later than appeal. This is construed to mean | |||
appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. | |||
If the application is ready for allowance after | |||
appeal and no petition has been filed, the examiner | |||
should simply cancel nonelected claims that are | |||
not eligible for rejoinder by examiner’s amendment, | |||
calling attention to the provisions of 37 CFR 1.144. | |||
821.02After Election Without Traverse[R-3] | |||
Where the initial requirement is not traversed, if | |||
adhered to, appropriate action should be given on the | |||
elected claims. Form paragraphs 8.25.01 or 8.25.02should be used by the examiner to acknowledge the | |||
election without traverse. | |||
¶ 8.25.01 Election Without Traverse | |||
Applicant’s election without traverse of [1] in the reply filed on | |||
[2] is acknowledged. | |||
¶ 8.25.02 Election Without Traverse Based on Incomplete | |||
Reply | |||
Applicant’s election of [1] in the reply filed on [2] is | |||
acknowledged. Because applicant did not distinctly and specifically | |||
point out the supposed errors in the restriction requirement, | |||
the election has been treated as an election without traverse | |||
(MPEP § 818.03(a)). | |||
Claims to the nonelected invention should be | |||
treated by using form paragraph 8.06. | |||
¶ 8.06 Claims Stand Withdrawn Without Traverse | |||
Claim [1] withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to | |||
37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected [2], there being | |||
no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without | |||
traverse in the reply filed on [3]. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
In bracket 2, insert --invention--, or --species--. | |||
This will show that applicant has not retained the | |||
right to petition from the requirement under 37 CFR | |||
1.144. | |||
Under these circumstances, when the application is | |||
otherwise ready for allowance, the claims to the | |||
nonelected invention, except for claims directed | |||
to nonelected species and nonelected inventions | |||
eligible for rejoinder, may be canceled by an examiner’s | |||
amendment, and the application passed to issue. | |||
See MPEP § 821.01 and § 821.04 et seq. | |||
¶ 8.07 Ready for Allowance, Non-elected Claims | |||
Withdrawn Without Traverse | |||
This application is in condition for allowance except for the | |||
presence of claim [1] directed to [2] nonelected without traverse. | |||
Accordingly, claim [3] been canceled. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
In bracket 2, insert --an invention--, --inventions--, --a species- | |||
-, or --species--. | |||
821.03Claims for Different Invention | |||
Added After an Office Action[R-3] | |||
Claims added by amendment following action by | |||
the examiner, MPEP § 818.01, § 818.02(a), to an | |||
invention other than previously claimed, should be | |||
treated as indicated by 37 CFR 1.145. | |||
37 CFR 1.145. Subsequent presentation of claims for | |||
different invention. | |||
If, after an office action on an application, the applicant presents | |||
claims directed to an invention distinct from and independent | |||
of the invention previously claimed, the applicant will be | |||
required to restrict the claims to the invention previously claimed | |||
if the amendment is entered, subject to reconsideration and review | |||
as provided in §§ 1.143 and 1.144 | |||
The action should include form paragraph 8.04. | |||
¶ 8.04 Election by Original Presentation | |||
Newly submitted claim [1] directed to an invention that is | |||
independent or distinct from the invention originally claimed for | |||
the following reasons: [2] | |||
Since applicant has received an action on the merits for the | |||
originally presented invention, this invention has been constructively | |||
elected by original presentation for prosecution on the merits. | |||
Accordingly, claim [3] withdrawn from consideration as | |||
being directed to a non-elected invention. See 37 CFR 1.142(b) | |||
and MPEP § 821.03. | |||
A complete action on all claims to the elected | |||
invention should be given. | |||
An amendment canceling all claims drawn to the | |||
elected invention and presenting only claims drawn to | |||
the nonelected invention should not be entered. Such | |||
an amendment is nonresponsive. Applicant should be | |||
notified by using form paragraph 8.26. | |||
¶ 8.26 Canceled Elected Claims, Non-Responsive | |||
The amendment filed on [1] canceling all claims drawn to the | |||
elected invention and presenting only claims drawn to a non- | |||
elected invention is non-responsive (MPEP § 821.03). The | |||
remaining claims are not readable on the elected invention | |||
because [2]. | |||
Since the above-mentioned amendment appears to be a bona | |||
fide attempt to reply, applicant is given a TIME PERIOD of ONE | |||
(1) MONTH or THIRTY (30) DAYS, whichever is longer, from | |||
the mailing date of this notice within which to supply the omission | |||
or correction in order to avoid abandonment. EXTENSIONS OF | |||
THIS TIME PERIOD UNDER 37 CFR 1.136(a) ARE AVAILABLE. | |||
The practice set forth in this section is not applicable | |||
where a provisional election of a single species | |||
was made in accordance with MPEP § 803.02 and | |||
applicant amends the claims such that the elected species | |||
is cancelled, or where applicant presents claims | |||
that could not have been restricted from the claims | |||
drawn to other elected invention had they been presented | |||
earlier. | |||
821.04Rejoinder [R-3] | |||
The propriety of a restriction requirement | |||
should be reconsidered when all the claims directed to | |||
the elected invention are in condition for allowance, | |||
and the nonelected invention(s) should be considered | |||
for rejoinder. Rejoinder involves withdrawal of a | |||
restriction requirement between an allowable elected | |||
invention and a nonelected invention and examination | |||
of the formerly nonelected invention on the merits. | |||
In order to be eligible for rejoinder, a claim to a | |||
nonelected invention must depend from or otherwise | |||
require all the limitations of an allowable claim. A | |||
withdrawn claim that does not require all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim will not be rejoined. Furthermore, | |||
where restriction was required between a | |||
product and a process of making and/or using the | |||
product, and the product invention was elected and | |||
subsequently found allowable, all claims to a nonelected | |||
process invention must depend from or otherwise | |||
require all the limitations of an allowable claim | |||
for the claims directed to that process invention to be | |||
eligible for rejoinder. See MPEP § 821.04(b). In order | |||
to retain the right to rejoinder, applicant is advised | |||
that the claims to the nonelected invention(s) should | |||
be amended during prosecution to require the limitations | |||
of the elected invention. Failure to do so may | |||
result in a loss of the right to rejoinder. | |||
Rejoined claims must be fully examined for patentability | |||
in accordance with 37 CFR 1.104. Thus, to be | |||
allowable, the rejoined claims must meet all criteria | |||
for patentability including the requirements of | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 101, 102, 103 and 112. | |||
The requirement for restriction between the | |||
rejoined inventions must be withdrawn. Any claim(s) | |||
presented in a continuation or divisional application | |||
that are anticipated by, or rendered obvious over, the | |||
claims of the parent application may be subject to | |||
a | |||
double patenting rejection when the restriction | |||
requirement is withdrawn in the parent application. In | |||
re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131- | |||
32 (CCPA 1971). See also MPEP § 804.01. | |||
The provisions of MPEP § 706.07 govern the propriety | |||
of making an Office action final in rejoinder situations. | |||
If rejoinder occurs after the first Office action | |||
on the merits, and if any of the rejoined claims are | |||
unpatentable, e.g., if a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112, | |||
first paragraph is made, then the next Office action | |||
may be made final where the new ground of rejection | |||
was necessitated by applicant’s amendment (or based | |||
on information submitted in an IDS filed during the | |||
time period set forth in 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the fee | |||
set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p)). See MPEP § 706.07(a). | |||
If restriction is required between product and process | |||
claims, for example, and all the product claims | |||
would be allowable in the first Office action on the | |||
merits, upon rejoinder of the process claims, it would | |||
not be proper to make the first Office action on the | |||
merits final if the rejoined process claim did not comply | |||
with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph. | |||
This is because the rejoinder did not occur | |||
after the first Office action on the merits. Note that the | |||
provisions of MPEP § 706.07(b) govern the propriety | |||
of making a first Office action on the merits final. | |||
Amendments submitted after final rejection are | |||
governed by 37 CFR 1.116 | |||
Where applicant voluntarily presents claims to the | |||
product and process, for example, in separate applications | |||
(i.e., no restriction requirement was made by the | |||
Office), and one of the applications issues as a patent, | |||
the remaining application may be rejected under the | |||
doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting, where | |||
appropriate (see MPEP § 804 - § 804.03), and applicant | |||
may overcome the rejection by the filing of a terminal | |||
disclaimer under 37 CFR 1.321(c) where | |||
appropriate. Similarly, if copending applications separately | |||
present product and process claims, provisionalobviousness-type double patenting rejections should | |||
be made where appropriate. However, once a determination | |||
as to the patentability of the product has been | |||
reached any process claim directed to making or using | |||
an allowable product should not be rejected over prior | |||
art without consultation with a Technology Center | |||
Director. | |||
See MPEP § 706.02(n) for the applicability of | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 103(b) to biotechnological processes and | |||
compositions of matter. | |||
See MPEP § 2116.01 for guidance on the treatment | |||
of process claims which make or use a novel, nonobvious | |||
product. | |||
821.04(a)Rejoinder Between Product Inventions; | |||
Rejoinder Between | |||
Process Inventions [R-5] | |||
Where restriction was required between independent | |||
or distinct products, or between independent or | |||
distinct processes, and all claims directed to an | |||
elected invention are allowable, any restriction | |||
requirement between the elected invention and any | |||
nonelected invention that depends from or otherwise | |||
requires all the limitations of an allowable claim | |||
should be withdrawn. For example, a requirement for | |||
restriction should be withdrawn when a generic claim, | |||
linking claim, or subcombination claim is allowable | |||
and any previously withdrawn claim depends from or | |||
otherwise requires all the limitations thereof. Claims | |||
that require all the limitations of an allowable claim | |||
will be rejoined and fully examined for patentability | |||
in accordance with 37 | |||
CFR 1.104. Claims that do not | |||
require all the limitations of an allowable claim | |||
remain withdrawn from consideration. However, in | |||
view of the withdrawal of the restriction requirement, | |||
if any claim presented in a continuing application | |||
includes all the limitations of a claim that is allowable | |||
in the parent application, such claim may be subject to | |||
a double patenting rejection over the claims of the | |||
parent application. Once a restriction requirement is | |||
withdrawn, the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no | |||
longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 F.2d 1211, | |||
1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
An amendment presenting additional claims that | |||
depend from or otherwise require all the limitations of | |||
an allowable claim will be entered as a matter of right | |||
if the amendment is presented prior to final rejection | |||
or allowance, whichever is earlier. Amendments submitted | |||
after final rejection are governed by 37 CFR | |||
1.116; amendments submitted after allowance are | |||
governed by 37 CFR 1.312. | |||
When all claims to the nonelected invention(s) | |||
depend from or otherwise require all the limitations of | |||
an allowable claim, applicant must be advised that | |||
claims drawn to the nonelected invention have been | |||
rejoined and the restriction requirement has been | |||
withdrawn. Form paragraph 8.45 may be used. | |||
¶ 8.45 Elected Invention Allowable, Rejoinder of All | |||
Previously Withdrawn Claims | |||
Claim [1] allowable. Claim [2], previously withdrawn from | |||
consideration as a result of a restriction requirement, [3] all the | |||
limitations of an allowable claim. Pursuant to the procedures set | |||
forth in MPEP § 821.04(a), the restriction requirement [4] | |||
inventions [5], as set forth in the Office action mailed on [6], is | |||
hereby withdrawn and claim [7] hereby rejoined and fully | |||
examined for patentability under 37 CFR 1.104. In view of the | |||
withdrawal of the restriction requirement, applicant(s) are advised | |||
that if any claim presented in a continuation or divisional application | |||
is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that | |||
is allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject | |||
to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejections over the claims of the instant application. | |||
Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions | |||
of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.Where the elected invention is directed to a product and previously | |||
nonelected process claims are rejoined, form paragraph | |||
8.43 should be used instead of this paragraph. | |||
2.This form paragraph should be used whenever ALL previously | |||
withdrawn claims depend from or otherwise require all the | |||
limitations of an allowable claim (e.g., a generic claim, linking | |||
claim, or subcombination claim) and wherein the non-elected | |||
claims have NOT been canceled. Use form paragraph 8.46, 8.47, | |||
or 8.47.01 as appropriate where the nonelected claims HAVE | |||
BEEN canceled. Use form paragraph 8.49 or 8.50 as appropriate | |||
when the elected invention is allowable and the restriction | |||
requirement is withdrawn at least in part. | |||
3.In bracket 2, insert the number(s) of the rejoined claim(s) followed | |||
by either -- is-- or -- are--. | |||
4. In bracket 3 insert-- requires-- or -- require--. | |||
5.In bracket 4, insert either --between-- or --among--. | |||
6.In bracket 5, insert the group(s), species, or subject matter of | |||
the invention(s) being rejoined. | |||
7.In bracket 7, insert the number(s) of the rejoined claim(s) followed | |||
by either --is-- or --are--. | |||
When no claims directed to the nonelected invention( | |||
s) depend from or otherwise require all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim, form paragraph 8.49 | |||
should be used to explain why all nonelected claims | |||
are withdrawn from further consideration. | |||
¶ 8.49 Elected Invention Allowable, Claims Stand | |||
Withdrawn as Not In Required Form | |||
Claim [1] allowable. The restriction requirement [2] , as set | |||
forth in the Office action mailed on [3] , has been reconsidered in | |||
view of the allowability of claims to the elected invention pursuant | |||
to MPEP § 821.04(a). The restriction requirement is hereby | |||
withdrawn as to any claim that requires all the limitations of | |||
an allowable claim. Claim [4] , directed to [5] withdrawn from | |||
further consideration because [6] require all the limitations of an | |||
allowable generic linking claim as required by 37 CFR 1.141. | |||
In view of the above noted withdrawal of the restriction | |||
requirement, applicant is advised that if any claim presented in a | |||
continuation or divisional application is anticipated by, or includes | |||
all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, | |||
such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or | |||
nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the | |||
instant application. | |||
Once a restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of | |||
35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1. This form paragraph is applicable where a restriction | |||
requirement was made between related product inventions or | |||
between related process inventions. See MPEP § 806.05(j) and § | |||
821.04(a). | |||
2.This form paragraph (or form paragraph 8.50) should be used | |||
upon the allowance of a linking claim, generic claim, or subcombination | |||
claim when none of the nonelected claims require all the | |||
limitations of an allowable claim. | |||
3.In bracket 2, insert -- between-- or --among-- followed by | |||
identification of the inventions (i.e., groups or species) restricted. | |||
4.In bracket 5, insert the subject matter of the claimed invention | |||
or species not being rejoined followed by -- remains-- or -- | |||
remain--. | |||
5.In bracket 6, insert --it does not-- or --they do not all--. | |||
Note that each additional invention is considered | |||
separately. When claims to one nonelected invention | |||
depend from or otherwise require all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim, and claims to another | |||
nonelected invention do not, applicant must be | |||
advised as to which claims have been rejoined and | |||
which claims remain withdrawn from further consideration. | |||
Form paragraph 8.50 may be used. | |||
¶ 8.50 Elected Invention Allowable, Some Claims No | |||
Longer Considered Withdrawn | |||
Claim [1] allowable. The restriction requirement [2] , as set | |||
forth in the Office action mailed on [3] , has been reconsidered in | |||
view of the allowability of claims to the elected invention pursuant | |||
to MPEP § 821.04(a). The restriction requirement is hereby | |||
withdrawn as to any claim that requires all the limitations of | |||
an allowable claim. Claim [4] , directed to [5] no longer withdrawn | |||
from consideration because the claim(s) requires all the | |||
limitations of an allowable claim. However, claim [6] , directed to | |||
[7] withdrawn from consideration because [8] require all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim. | |||
In view of the above noted withdrawal of the restriction | |||
requirement, applicant is advised that if any claim presented in a | |||
continuation or divisional application is anticipated by, or includes | |||
all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, | |||
such claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or | |||
nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the claims of the | |||
instant application. | |||
Once a restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions of | |||
35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1. This form paragraph is applicable where a restriction | |||
requirement was made between related product inventions or | |||
between related process inventions. See MPEP § 806.05(j) and § | |||
821.04(a). | |||
2.This form paragraph should be used upon the allowance of a | |||
linking claim, generic claim, or subcombination claim when, | |||
some, but not all, of the nonelected claims require all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim. | |||
3.In bracket 2, insert -- between-- or --among-- followed by | |||
identification of the inventions (i.e., groups or species) restricted. | |||
4.In bracket 5, insert the subject matter of the claimed invention | |||
or species being rejoined followed by either -- is-- or -- are--. | |||
5. In bracket 7, insert the subject matter of the claimed invention | |||
or species not being rejoined followed by -- remains-- or -- | |||
remain--. | |||
6.In bracket 8, insert --it does not-- or --they do not all--. | |||
7.If all of the claims are in proper form, i.e., they include all the | |||
limitations of an allowable claim, one of form paragraphs 8.45, | |||
8.46 or 8.47 must be used. | |||
Where the application claims an allowable invention | |||
and discloses but does not claim an additional | |||
invention that depends on or otherwise requires all the | |||
limitations of the allowable claim, applicant may add | |||
claims directed to such additional invention by way of | |||
amendment pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121. Amendments | |||
submitted after allowance are governed by 37 CFR | |||
1.312; amendments submitted after final rejection are | |||
governed by 37 CFR 1.116. | |||
Form paragraph 8.46 (or form paragraph 8.47 or | |||
8.47.01 if appropriate) must be used to notify applicant | |||
when nonelected claim(s) which depended from | |||
or required all the limitations of an allowable claim | |||
were canceled by applicant and may be reinstated by | |||
submitting the claim(s) in an amendment. | |||
¶ 8.46 Elected Invention Allowable, Non-elected Claims | |||
Canceled, Other Issues Remain Outstanding | |||
Claim [1] allowable. The restriction requirement [2] inventions | |||
[3], as set forth in the Office action mailed on [4], has been reconsidered | |||
in view of the allowability of claims to the elected invention | |||
pursuant to MPEP § 821.04(a). The restriction requirement | |||
is hereby withdrawn as to any claim that requires all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim. Claim [5] , which required all the | |||
limitations of an allowable claim, previously withdrawn from consideration | |||
as a result of the restriction requirement, [6] canceled | |||
by applicant in the reply filed on [7] . The canceled, nonelected | |||
claim(s) may be reinstated by applicant if submitted in a timely | |||
filed amendment in reply to this action. Upon entry of the amendment, | |||
such amended claim(s) will be examined for patentability | |||
under 37 CFR 1.104. | |||
In view of the withdrawal of the restriction requirement as set | |||
forth above, applicant(s) are advised that if any claim presented in | |||
a continuation or divisional application is anticipated by, or | |||
includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in the | |||
present application, such claim may be subject to provisional stat | |||
utory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the | |||
claims of the instant application. | |||
Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions | |||
of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is applicable where a restriction requirement | |||
was made between related product inventions or between | |||
related process inventions. See MPEP § 806.05(j) and § | |||
821.04(a). | |||
2.This form paragraph (or form paragraph 8.47 or 8.47.01) | |||
must be used upon the allowance of a linking claim, generic | |||
claim, or subcombination claim following a restriction requirement | |||
with at least one of these claim types present and wherein | |||
the non-elected claims requiring all the limitations of an allowable | |||
claim HAVE BEEN canceled. Use form paragraph 8.45 where the | |||
nonelected claims have NOT been canceled and all previously | |||
withdrawn claims are rejoined. Use form paragraph 8.49 or 8.50 | |||
as appropriate when the elected invention is allowable and the | |||
restriction requirement is withdrawn at least in part. | |||
3.If no issues remain outstanding and application is otherwise | |||
ready for allowance, use form paragraph 8.47 or 8.47.01 instead | |||
of this form paragraph. | |||
4. In bracket 2, insert either --between-- or --among--. | |||
5. In bracket 3, insert the group(s), species, or subject matter of | |||
the invention(s) that were restricted. | |||
6. In bracket 5, insert the number of each claim that required | |||
all the limitations of an allowable claim but was canceled as a | |||
result of the restriction requirement. | |||
7. In bracket 6, insert either --was-- or --were--. | |||
¶ 8.47 Elected Invention Allowable, Non-elected Claims | |||
Canceled, Before Final Rejection, No Outstanding Issues | |||
Remaining | |||
Claim [1] allowable. The restriction requirement [2] inventions | |||
[3], as set forth in the Office action mailed on [4], has been reconsidered | |||
in view of the allowability of claims to the elected invention | |||
pursuant to MPEP § 821.04(a). The restriction requirement | |||
is hereby withdrawn as to any claim that requires all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim. Claim [5] , which required all the | |||
limitations of an allowable claim, previously withdrawn from consideration | |||
as a result of the restriction requirement, [6] canceled | |||
by applicant in the reply filed on [7] . The canceled, nonelected | |||
claim(s) may be reinstated by applicant if submitted in an amendment, | |||
limited to the addition of such claim(s), filed within a time | |||
period of ONE MONTH, or THIRTY DAYS, whichever is longer, | |||
from the mailing date of this letter. Upon entry of the amendment, | |||
such amended claim(s) will be examined for patentability under | |||
37 CFR 1.104. If NO such amendment is submitted within the set | |||
time period, the application will be passed to issue. PROSECUTION | |||
ON THE MERITS IS OTHERWISE CLOSED. | |||
In view of the withdrawal of the restriction requirement as to | |||
the linked inventions, applicant(s) are advised that if any claim | |||
presented in a continuation or divisional application is anticipated | |||
by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that is allowable in | |||
the present application, such claim may be subject to provisional | |||
statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections over the | |||
claims of the instant application. | |||
Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions | |||
of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is applicable where a restriction requirement | |||
was made between related product inventions or between | |||
related process inventions and the application has not been finally | |||
rejected. See MPEP § 806.05(j) and § 821.04(a). After final rejection, | |||
use form paragraph 8.47.01 instead of this form paragraph. | |||
2.This form paragraph (or form paragraph 8.46 or 8.47.01) | |||
must be used upon the allowance of a linking claim, generic | |||
claim, or subcombination claim following a restriction requirement | |||
with at least one of these claim types present and wherein | |||
the non-elected claims requiring all the limitations of an allowable | |||
claim HAVE BEEN canceled. Use form paragraph 8.45 where the | |||
nonelected claims have NOT been canceled and all previously | |||
withdrawn claims are rejoined. Use form paragraph 8.49 or 8.50as appropriate when the elected invention is allowable and the | |||
restriction requirement is withdrawn at least in part. | |||
3.This form paragraph should be used only when there are no | |||
outstanding issues remaining and is to be used with only a PTO- | |||
90C cover sheet. | |||
4.In bracket 2, insert either --between-- or --among--. | |||
5.In bracket 3, insert the group(s), species, or subject matter of | |||
the invention(s) that were restricted. | |||
6.In bracket 5, insert the number of each claim that required all | |||
the limitations of an allowable claim but was canceled as a result | |||
of the restriction requirement. | |||
7.In bracket 6, insert either --was-- or --were--. | |||
¶ 8.47.01 Elected Invention Allowable, Non-elected | |||
Claims Canceled, After Final Rejection, No Outstanding | |||
Issues Remaining | |||
Claim [1] allowable. The restriction requirement [2] inventions | |||
[3], as set forth in the Office action mailed on [4], has been reconsidered | |||
in view of the allowability of claims to the elected invention | |||
pursuant to MPEP § 821.04(a). The restriction requirement | |||
is hereby withdrawn as to any claim that requires all the limitations | |||
of an allowable claim. In view of the withdrawal of the | |||
restriction requirement as set forth above, applicant(s) are advised | |||
that if any claim presented in a continuation or divisional application | |||
is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that | |||
is allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject | |||
to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting | |||
rejections over the claims of the instant application. | |||
Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions | |||
of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.This form paragraph is applicable where a restriction requirement | |||
was made between related product inventions or between | |||
related process inventions and the application has been finally | |||
rejected. See MPEP § 806.05(j) and § 821.04(a). Before final | |||
rejection, use form paragraph 8.47 instead of this form paragraph. | |||
2.This form paragraph (or form paragraph 8.46) must be used | |||
upon the allowance of a linking claim, generic claim, or subcombination | |||
claim following a restriction requirement with at least | |||
one of these claim types present and wherein the non-elected | |||
claims requiring all the limitations of an allowable claim HAVE | |||
BEEN canceled. Use form paragraph 8.45 where the nonelected | |||
claims have NOT been canceled and all previously withdrawn | |||
claims are rejoined. Use form paragraph 8.49 or 8.50 as appropriate | |||
when the elected invention is allowable and the restriction | |||
requirement is withdrawn at least in part. | |||
3.This form paragraph should be used only when there are no | |||
outstanding issues remaining and is to be used with only a PTO- | |||
90C cover sheet. | |||
4.In bracket 2, insert either --between-- or --among--. | |||
5.In bracket 3, insert the group(s), species, or subject matter of | |||
the invention(s) that were restricted. | |||
If the election is traversed, an additional paragraph | |||
worded as form paragraph 8.03 should be added to the | |||
holding. | |||
¶ 8.03 In Condition for Allowance, Non-elected Claims | |||
Withdrawn with Traverse | |||
This application is in condition for allowance except for the | |||
presence of claim [1] directed to an invention non-elected with | |||
traverse in the reply filed on [2]. Applicant is given ONE | |||
MONTH or THIRTY DAYS from the date of this letter, whichever | |||
is longer, to cancel the noted claims or take other appropriate | |||
action (37 CFR 1.144). Failure to take action during this period | |||
will be treated as authorization to cancel the noted claims by | |||
Examiner’s Amendment and pass the case to issue. Extensions of | |||
time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) will not be permitted since this application | |||
will be passed to issue. | |||
The prosecution of this case is closed except for consideration | |||
of the above matter. | |||
821.04(b)Rejoinder of Process Requiring | |||
an Allowable Product [R-5] | |||
Where claims directed to a product and to a process | |||
of making and/or using the product are presented in | |||
the same application, applicant may be called upon | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 121 to elect claims to either the product | |||
or a process. See MPEP § 806.05(f) and | |||
§ | |||
806.05(h). The claims to the nonelected invention | |||
will be withdrawn from further consideration under | |||
37 CFR 1.142. See MPEP § | |||
821 through § 821.03. | |||
However, if applicant elects a claim(s) directed to a | |||
product which is subsequently found allowable, withdrawn | |||
process claims which depend from or otherwise | |||
require all the limitations of an allowable | |||
product claim will be considered for rejoinder. All | |||
claims directed to a nonelected process invention | |||
must depend from or otherwise require all the limitations | |||
of an allowable product claim for that process | |||
invention to be rejoined. Upon rejoinder of claims | |||
directed to a previously nonelected process invention, | |||
the restriction requirement between the elected product | |||
and rejoined process(es) will be withdrawn. | |||
If applicant cancels all the claims directed to a nonelected | |||
process invention before rejoinder occurs, the | |||
examiner should not withdraw the restriction requirement. | |||
This will preserve applicant’s rights under | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 121. | |||
Where the application as originally filed discloses | |||
the product and the process for making and/or using | |||
the product, and only claims directed to the product | |||
are presented for examination, applicant may present | |||
claims directed to the process of making and/or using | |||
the allowable product by way of amendment pursuant | |||
to 37 CFR 1.121. In view of the rejoinder procedure, | |||
and in order to expedite prosecution, applicants are | |||
encouraged to present such process claims, preferably | |||
as dependent claims, in the application at an early | |||
stage of prosecution. Process claims which depend | |||
from or otherwise require all the limitations of the | |||
patentable product will be entered as a matter of right | |||
if the amendment is presented prior to final rejection | |||
or allowance, whichever is earlier. However, if applicant | |||
files an amendment adding claims to a process | |||
invention, and the amendment includes process | |||
claims which do not depend from or otherwise require | |||
all the limitations of an allowable product, all claims | |||
directed to that newly added invention may be withdrawn | |||
from consideration, via an election by original | |||
presentation (see MPEP § 821.03). | |||
Amendments submitted after allowance are governed | |||
by 37 CFR 1.312. Amendments to add only | |||
process claims which depend from or otherwise | |||
require all the limitations of an allowed product claim | |||
and which meet the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 101, | |||
102, 103, and 112 may be entered. | |||
Amendments submitted after final rejection are | |||
governed by 37 CFR 1.116. When all claims to the | |||
elected product are in condition for allowance, all process | |||
claims eligible for rejoinder (see MPEP | |||
§ | |||
821.04) must be considered for patentability. | |||
If an amendment after final rejection that otherwise | |||
complies with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.116 | |||
would place all the elected product claim(s) in condition | |||
for allowance and thereby require rejoinder of | |||
process claims that raise new issues requiring further | |||
consideration (e.g., issues under 35 U.S.C. 101 or 112, | |||
first paragraph), the amendment could be denied | |||
entry. For example, if pending nonelected process | |||
claims depend from a finally rejected product claim, | |||
and the amendment (or affidavit or other evidence that | |||
could have been submitted earlier) submitted after | |||
final rejection, if entered, would put the product | |||
claim(s) in condition for allowance, entry of the | |||
amendment (or evidence submission) would not be | |||
required if it would raise new issues that would | |||
require further consideration, such as issues under | |||
35 | |||
U.S.C. 101 or 112, first paragraph necessitated by | |||
rejoinder of previously nonelected process claims. | |||
Before mailing an advisory action in the above situation, | |||
it is recommended that applicant be called and | |||
given the opportunity to cancel the process claims to | |||
place the application in condition for allowance with | |||
the allowable product claims, or to file an RCE to | |||
continue prosecution of the process claims in the | |||
same application as the product claims. | |||
In after final situations when no amendment or evidence | |||
is submitted, but applicant submits arguments | |||
that persuade the examiner that all the product claims | |||
are allowable, in effect the final rejection of the product | |||
claims is not sustainable, and any rejection of the | |||
rejoined process claims must be done in a new Office | |||
action. If the process claims would be rejected, applicant | |||
may be called before mailing a new Office action | |||
and given the opportunity to cancel the process claims | |||
and to place the application in condition for allowance | |||
with the allowable product claims. If a new Office | |||
action is prepared indicating the allowability of the | |||
product claim and including a new rejection of the | |||
process claims, the provisions of MPEP § 706.07 govern | |||
the propriety of making the Office action final. | |||
Form paragraph 8.21.04 should be included in any | |||
requirement for restriction between a product and a | |||
process of making or process of using the product. | |||
See MPEP § 806.05(f) and § 806.05(h). | |||
Form paragraph 8.42 or 8.43 should be used to | |||
notify applicant of the rejoinder of process inventions | |||
which depend from or otherwise require all the limitations | |||
of an allowable product claim. | |||
¶ 8.42 Allowable Product, Rejoinder of at Least One | |||
Process Claim, Less Than All Claims | |||
Claim [1] directed to an allowable product. Pursuant to the procedures | |||
set forth in MPEP § 821.04(b), claim [2], directed to the | |||
process of making or using the allowable product, previously | |||
withdrawn from consideration as a result of a restriction requirement, | |||
[3] hereby rejoined and fully examined for patentability | |||
under 37 CFR 1.104. Claim [4], directed to the invention(s) of [5] | |||
require all the limitations of an allowable product claim, and [6] | |||
NOT been rejoined. | |||
Because a claimed invention previously withdrawn from consideration | |||
under 37 CFR 1.142 has been rejoined, the restriction | |||
requirement [7] groups [8] as set forth in the Office action | |||
mailed on [9] is hereby withdrawn. In view of the withdrawal of | |||
the restriction requirement as to the rejoined inventions, applicant( | |||
s) are advised that if any claim presented in a continuation or | |||
divisional application is anticipated by, or includes all the limitations | |||
of, a claim that is allowable in the present application, such | |||
claim may be subject to provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory | |||
double patenting rejections over the claims of the instant application. | |||
Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions | |||
of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.If ALL previously withdrawn process claims are being | |||
rejoined, then form paragraph 8.43 should be used instead of this | |||
form paragraph. All claims directed to a nonelected process invention | |||
must require all the limitations of an allowable product claim | |||
for that process invention to be rejoined. See MPEP § 821.04(b). | |||
2.In bracket 1, insert the claim number(s) of the allowable | |||
product claims followed by either -- is-- or -- are--. | |||
3.In bracket 2, insert the claim number(s) of ALL the rejoined | |||
process claims. | |||
4.In bracket 3, insert either --is-- or --are--. | |||
5.In bracket 4, insert the number(s) of the claims NOT being | |||
rejoined followed by either -- is-- or -- are--. | |||
6.In bracket 5, insert the group(s) or subject matter of the | |||
invention(s) to which the claims NOT being rejoined are directed, | |||
followed by either --, do not all-- or --, does not--. | |||
7.In bracket 6, insert --has-- or --have--. | |||
8.In bracket 7, insert either -- among -- or -- between--. | |||
9.In bracket 8, insert group numbers of the elected product and | |||
rejoined process. | |||
¶ 8.43 Allowable Product, Rejoinder of All Previously | |||
Withdrawn Process Claims | |||
Claim [1] directed to an allowable product. Pursuant to the procedures | |||
set forth in MPEP § 821.04(b), claim [2] , directed to the | |||
process of making or using an allowable product, previously withdrawn | |||
from consideration as a result of a restriction requirement, | |||
[3] hereby rejoined and fully examined for patentability under 37 | |||
CFR 1.104. | |||
Because all claims previously withdrawn from consideration | |||
under 37 CFR 1.142 have been rejoined, the restriction requirement | |||
as set forth in the Office action mailed on [4] is hereby | |||
withdrawn. In view of the withdrawal of the restriction requirement | |||
as to the rejoined inventions, applicant(s) are advised that if | |||
any claim presented in a continuation or divisional application is | |||
anticipated by, or includes all the limitations of, a claim that is | |||
allowable in the present application, such claim may be subject to | |||
provisional statutory and/or nonstatutory double patenting rejections | |||
over the claims of the instant application. | |||
Once the restriction requirement is withdrawn, the provisions | |||
of 35 U.S.C. 121 are no longer applicable. See In re Ziegler, 443 | |||
F.2d 1211, 1215, 170 USPQ 129, 131-32 (CCPA 1971). See also | |||
MPEP § 804.01. | |||
Examiner Note: | |||
1.If LESS THAN ALL previously withdrawn claims are being | |||
rejoined, then form paragraph 8.42 should be used instead of this | |||
form paragraph. All claims directed to a nonelected process invention | |||
must require all the limitations of an allowable product claim | |||
for that process invention to be rejoined. See MPEP § 821.04(b). | |||
2.In bracket 1, insert the claim number(s) of the allowable | |||
product claim(s) followed by either -- is-- or -- are--. | |||
3.In bracket 2, insert the claim number(s) of the process | |||
claim(s) previously withdrawn from consideration. | |||
4.In bracket 3, insert either --is-- or --are--. | |||
5.If rejoinder occurs after the first Office action on the merits | |||
and if any of the rejoined claims are unpatentable, e.g., if a rejection | |||
under 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph is made, then the next | |||
Office action may be made final if proper under MPEP § | |||
706.07(a). | |||
822Claims to Inventions That Are Not | |||
Distinct in Plural Applications of | |||
Same Inventive Entity [R-3] | |||
The treatment of plural applications of the same | |||
inventive entity, none of which has become a patent, | |||
is treated in 37 CFR 1.78(b) as follows: | |||
(b) Where two or more applications filed by the same | |||
applicant contain conflicting claims, elimination of such | |||
claims from all but one application may be required in the | |||
absence of good and sufficient reason for their retention | |||
during pendency in more than one application. | |||
See MPEP § 804.03 for conflicting subject matter, | |||
different inventors, common ownership. | |||
See MPEP § 706.03(k) for rejection of one claim | |||
on another in the same application. | |||
See MPEP § 706.03(w) and § 706.07(b) for res | |||
judicata. | judicata. | ||
See MPEP § 709.01 for one application in interference. | See MPEP § 709.01 for one application in interference. | ||
See MPEP § 806.04(h) to § 806.04(i) for species | |||
and genus in separate applications. | See MPEP § 806.04(h) to § 806.04(i) for species | ||
and genus in separate applications. | |||
Wherever appropriate, such conflicting applications | |||
should be joined. This is particularly true | Wherever appropriate, such conflicting applications | ||
where the two or more applications are due to, and | should be joined. This is particularly true | ||
consonant with, a requirement to restrict which the | where the two or more applications are due to, and | ||
examiner now considers to be improper. | consonant with, a requirement to restrict which the | ||
examiner now considers to be improper. | |||
Form paragraph 8.29 should be used when the conflicting | |||
claims are identical or conceded by applicant | |||
to be not patentably distinct. | |||
(b)Where two or more applications filed by the same applicant | |||
contain conflicting claims, elimination of such claims from | |||
all but one application may be required in the absence of good and | |||
sufficient reason for their retention during pendency in more than | ¶ 8.29 Conflicting Claims, Copending Applications | ||
one application. | |||
Claim [1] of this application conflict with claim [2] of Application | |||
No. [3]. 37 CFR 1.78(b) provides that when two or more | |||
applications filed by the same applicant contain conflicting | |||
Where claims in one application are | claims, elimination of such claims from all but one application | ||
over claims of another application of the same | may be required in the absence of good and sufficient reason for | ||
inventive entity (or different inventive entity with | their retention during pendency in more than one application. | ||
common ownership) because they contain conflicting | Applicant is required to either cancel the conflicting claims from | ||
claims, a complete examination should be | all but one application or maintain a clear line of demarcation | ||
made of the claims of each application and all appropriate | between the applications. See MPEP § 822. | ||
rejections should be entered in each application, | |||
including rejections based upon prior art. The claims | Examiner Note: | ||
of each application may also be rejected on the | |||
grounds of “provisional” double patenting on the | This form paragraph is appropriate only when the conflicting | ||
claims of the other application whether or not any | claims are not patentably distinct. | ||
claims avoid the prior art. Where appropriate, the | |||
same prior art may be relied upon in each of the applications. | |||
See also MPEP § 804.01 and § 822. | |||
822.01Copending Before the Examiner | |||
The “provisional” double patenting rejection | [R-3] | ||
should continue to be made by the examiner in each | |||
application as long as there are conflicting claims in | 37 CFR 1.78. Claiming benefit of earlier filing date and | ||
more than one application unless that “provisional” | cross-references to other applications. | ||
double patenting rejection is the only rejection | |||
remaining in one of the applications. See MPEP | |||
§ 804, subsection I.B. when the “provisional” double | |||
patenting rejection is the only rejection remaining in | (b)Where two or more applications filed by the same applicant | ||
at least one application. | contain conflicting claims, elimination of such claims from | ||
all but one application may be required in the absence of good and | |||
sufficient reason for their retention during pendency in more than | |||
one application. | |||
See Chapter 1800, in particular MPEP § 1850, | |||
§ 1875, and § 1893.03(d), for a detailed discussion | |||
Where claims in one application are unpatent- | |||
able | |||
over claims of another application of the same | |||
inventive entity (or different inventive entity with | |||
common ownership) because they contain conflicting | |||
claims, a complete examination should be | |||
made of the claims of each application and all appropriate | |||
rejections should be entered in each application, | |||
including rejections based upon prior art. The claims | |||
of each application may also be rejected on the | |||
grounds of “provisional” double patenting on the | |||
claims of the other application whether or not any | |||
claims avoid the prior art. Where appropriate, the | |||
same prior art may be relied upon in each of the applications. | |||
See also MPEP § 804.01 and § 822. | |||
The “provisional” double patenting rejection | |||
should continue to be made by the examiner in each | |||
application as long as there are conflicting claims in | |||
more than one application unless that “provisional” | |||
double patenting rejection is the only rejection | |||
remaining in one of the applications. See MPEP | |||
§ | |||
804, subsection I.B. when the “provisional” double | |||
patenting rejection is the only rejection remaining in | |||
at least one application. | |||
823Unity of Invention Under the | |||
Patent Cooperation Treaty [R-3] | |||
See Chapter 1800, in particular MPEP § 1850, | |||
§ | |||
1875, and § 1893.03(d), for a detailed discussion | |||
of unity of invention under the Patent Cooperation | of unity of invention under the Patent Cooperation | ||
Treaty (PCT). | Treaty (PCT). | ||