MPEP 100 to 500, 1500 (design), 1600 (plants) Flashcards
What’s the general rule for whether a file is accessible to the public?
Where enforceable rights exist outside the PTO, full access to files inside the PTO exists.
An unpublished abandoned application can be accessed if it is ______ in an issued U.S. patent.
An unpublished abandoned application can be accessed if it is_identified_in an issued U.S. patent.
Rule 1.14 (a)(1)(iv), MPEP 101
An “as filed” copy of a pending unpublished application can be obtained without service if it is in whole __________ an issued patent.
incorporated into be reference. MPEP 100
Name three ways to obtain a foreign filing license.
- Six months after filing provisional or non-provisional in the U.S.
- It’s granted on the filing receipt.
- Petition.
MPEP 140
Who can access a pending or abandoned file (e.g., an application)?
(1) Applicant
(2) practitioner of record,
(3) the assignee,
(4) any inventor,
(5) if no power of attorney, then
anyone given permission by any of the above.
MPEP 104:
What type of application is available to the public, even if not published yet.
Reissue application.
MPEP 100
(a) What should you do if your client’s patent is filed in a foreign country without a foreign filing license?
(b) What happens to the corresponding U.S. application if you don’t obtain the license?
(c) What necessitates that the patent application needs a foreign filing license?
(a) Petition to retroactively obtain a foreign filing license, even after issue. Must establish erroneous foreign filing.
MPEP 140, USC 184
(b) patent is invalid.
(c) Invention was in the U.S.
What rule (rule number) concerns correction of inventorship, and what forms are required?
37 CFR 1.48. Application Data Sheet, declaration.
MPEP 602.01(c)
What do non-provisional applications require that provisional applications do not?
Oath, claims. MPEP 200
Under 37 CFR 1.48, when do you need to file a new declaration?
When adding a new inventor. MPEP 200
What are requirements for a continuation and divisional applications?
Parent still pending, one common inventor. MPEP 200
What do provisional application lack?
PODIC: priority, oath, design, IDS, claims. MPEP 200
What is a substitute application?
Same as a continuation, but parent is not copending. Don’t get priority date. MPEP 200
What is a continued prosecution application? (CPA)
A continuation or divisional of a design application. MPEP 200
Benefit of foreign priority: Say you file in Sweden on May 10 2017, in France on May 20, 2017, and in the U.S. on May 15 2018. Can you claim priority to the either application?
No. Not Sweden b/c it’s been more than a year. Not France b/c it’s not the first filed application.
35 USC § 119; MPEP 201.13. Benefit of foreign priority only available to first filed foreign application. Also, U.S. application must be filed within one year of the first foreign filing.
To convey legal title, an assignment must be ____________.
in writing MPEP 300
A recorded document is available if ____ of the patent properties assigned is, or becomes, an issued patent.
any, MPEP 300
Who can apply for a U.S. patent? Who cannot?
Anyone can apply, except for PTO employees. MPEP 300
In order for a second purchaser to take title because of a failure of the first purchaser to record, the second purchase must be (a) _______, and (b) _________.
(a) The second buyer took for consideration (i.e., it was not a gift or bequest .. .i.e., transferred via a will); and
(b) The second buyer did not know of the first sale (i.e., purchased without notice).
MPEP 300
An assignment in a foreign language will not be accepted for recording unless _________.
It is accompanied by a translation. MPEP 300
Who owns an invention unless it’s previously assigned?
The inventors. MPEP 300
When is the assignment record of an abandoned non-reissue application available to the public?
When the abandoned application is referred to in the assignment record of a issued patent. MPEP 301.01. Rule 1.12
When can an attorney/agent withdraw representation?
- If there’s sufficient time to respond to any outstanding actions.
- And PTO grants the request.
MPEP 402.06.
When is notice to withdraw representation (of a client) become effective?
When approved by the USPTO, not when it’s received. MPEP 402. 06.
When does revocation of power of attorney become effective?
When received by the USPTO. MPEP 402.05.
Who appoints a patent agent or attorney?
The applicant or patent owner, via a power of attorney. MPEP 402.02(a).
Withdrawal of representation: What does practitioner owe client?
Sufficient notice.
Who and when can someone sign an oath/declaration on behalf of an inventor?
When the inventor is hostile (uncooperative), incapacitated, or dead, A co-inventor or someone of sufficient proprietary interest may sign a substitute statement. 37 CFR 1.45, 1.46
What is a substitute statement?
An applicant under may execute a substitute statement in lieu of an oath or declaration under §1.63 if the inventor is deceased, is under a legal incapacity, has refused to execute the oath or declaration under §1.63, or cannot be found or reached after diligent effort. Rule 1.64. MPEP 409.05
Anyone signing a paper must believe that its contents are:
Proper, not frivolous, and supported by evidence. MPEP 402.03
Can a registered practitioner submit an application or office action response without being “of record,” e.g., lacking power of attorney?
Yes. MPEP 405.
When application has different inventors, can each inventor have his own agent of record?
Yes. MPEP 402.10.
“(A) If coinventor A has given a power of attorney to a patent practitioner and coinventor B has not, replies must be signed by the patent practitioner of A and by coinventor B.
(B) If coinventors A and B have each appointed their own patent practitioner, replies must be signed by both patent practitioners.”
Inventors X and Y jointly conceive and reduce to practice an invention. Subsequently, in the course of determining how best to commercially exploit the invention, they have a “falling out” and decide to go their own ways. Inventor X , decides to obtain patent protection for the invention, but inventor Y refuses to join in any application. What action accords with proper PTO practices and procedure?
Inventor X should file an application for patent on behalf of himself and inventor Y and provide proof of the pertinent facts relating to inventor Y’s refusal to join in the application. (substitute statement)
MPEP 409.03 (refusal to join)
For a non-provisional utility app, what is required for completeness, and hence getting a filing date.
“the date on which a specification, with or without claims, is received in the Office” MPEP 506, CFR 1.53(b). But sending in drawings will add new matter, so then later filing date anyway.
What applicants qualify as small entities?
(a) a person
(b) small business per the Small Business Act, independent inventors or nonprofits. (Usually includes a maximum of 500 employees.)
(c) So long as applicant has not transferred rights to a non-small entity.
MPEP 509.02
What disqualifies an independent inventor as a microentity?
Any of:
(a) not a small entity,
(b) named on 4 or more filed patents (any type),
(c) Income > 3 times median income,
(d) has licensed or given ownership interest to non-microentity. MPEP 509.04.
What kind of application can be filed via facsimile?
A CPA (continued prosecution application), designs only. - But a certificate of transmission will not help with getting filing date! Just eastern time.
CFR 153(d). 502.01
What triggers a notice of missing parts?
Missing: filing fee, search fee, examination fee, signed application data sheet.
. 2 months to reply. 601.01(a). 600-15
Filing oath/declaration can now be delayed until the issue fee is paid.
Petitions to make special require a fee, with two exceptions. They are:
Age, health.
A Certificate of Mailing can be used for any paper filed in the Patent Office except for:
- New patent applications (either Rule 1.53(b) or 1.53(d)) including Continuations, CIPs and Divisions;
- Papers filed in an interference which are directed to be filed by hand;
- Agreements settling an interference; and
- Any PCT papers.
What section of the MPEP lists submissions that can’t be sent by facsimile?
What section of the rules lists submissions that can’t be send by facsimile?
MPEP 500. Specifically, MPEP 502.01.
Rules: 37 CFR 1.6 and 1.8.