MPEP Chapter 2100 » Software Patents & More

Patentability

Section 2101-2102 [Reserved]
Section 2103 Patent Examination Process
Section 2104 Inventions Patentable – Requirements of 35 U.S.C. 101
Section 2105 Patent Eligible Subject Matter — Living Subject Matter
Section 2106 Patent Subject Matter Eligibility
Section 2106.01 [Reserved]
Section 2106.02 [Reserved]
Section 2106.03 Eligibility Step 1: The Four Categories of Statutory Subject Matter
Section 2106.04 Eligibility Step 2: Whether a Claim is Directed to a Judicial Exception
Section 2106.04(a) Abstract Ideas
Section 2106.04(a)(1) Examples of Claims That Are Not Directed To Abstract Ideas
Section 2106.04(a)(2) Examples of Concepts The Courts Have Identified As Abstract Ideas
Section 2106.04(b) Laws of Nature, Natural Phenomena & Products of Nature
Section 2106.04(c) The Markedly Different Characteristics Analysis
Section 2106.05 Eligibility Step 2B: Whether a Claim Amounts to Significantly More
Section 2106.05(a) Improvements to the Functioning of a Computer or To Any Other Technology or Technical Field
Section 2106.05(b) Particular Machine
Section 2106.05(c) Particular Transformation
Section 2106.05(d) Well-Understood, Routine, Conventional Activity
Section 2106.05(e) Other Meaningful Limitations
Section 2106.05(f) Mere Instructions To Apply An Exception
Section 2106.05(g) Insignificant Extra-Solution Activity
Section 2106.05(h) Field of Use and Technological Environment
Section 2106.06 Streamlined Analysis
Section 2106.06(a) Eligibility is Self Evident
Section 2106.06(b) Clear Improvement to a Technology or to Computer Functionality
Section 2106.07 Formulating and Supporting Rejections For Lack Of Subject Matter Eligibility
Section 2106.07(a) Formulating a Rejection For Lack of Subject Matter Eligibility
Section 2106.07(b) Evaluating Applicant’s Response
Section 2106.07(c) Clarifying the Record
Section 2107 Guidelines for Examination of Applications for Compliance with the Utility Requirement
Section 2107.01 General Principles Governing Utility Rejections
Section 2107.02 Procedural Considerations Related to Rejections for Lack of Utility
Section 2107.03 Special Considerations for Asserted Therapeutic or Pharmacological Utilities
Section 2108-2110 [Reserved]
Section 2111 Claim Interpretation; Broadest Reasonable Interpretation
Section 2111.01 Plain Meaning
Section 2111.02 Effect of Preamble
Section 2111.03 Transitional Phrases
Section 2111.04 “Adapted to,” “Adapted for,” “Wherein,” “Whereby,” and Contingent Clauses
Section 2111.05 Functional and Nonfunctional Descriptive Material
Section 2112 Requirements of Rejection Based on Inherency; Burden of Proof
Section 2112.01 Composition, Product, and Apparatus Claims
Section 2112.02 Process Claims
Section 2113 Product-by-Process Claims
Section 2114 Apparatus and Article Claims — Functional Language
Section 2115 Material or Article Worked Upon by Apparatus
Section 2116 [Reserved]
Section 2116.01 Novel, Unobvious Starting Material or End Product
Section 2117 Markush Claims
Section 2118-2120 [Reserved]
Section 2121 Prior Art; General Level of Operability Required to Make a Prima Facie Case
Section 2121.01 Use of Prior Art in Rejections Where Operability is in Question
Section 2121.02 Compounds and Compositions — What Constitutes Enabling Prior Art
Section 2121.03 Plant Genetics — What Constitutes Enabling Prior Art
Section 2121.04 Apparatus and Articles — What Constitutes Enabling Prior Art
Section 2122 Discussion of Utility in the Prior Art
Section 2123 Rejection Over Prior Art’s Broad Disclosure Instead of Preferred Embodiments
Section 2124 Exception to the Rule That the Critical Reference Date Must Precede the Filing Date
Section 2124.01 Tax Strategies Deemed Within the Prior Art
Section 2125 Drawings as Prior Art
Section 2126 Availability of a Document as a “Patent” for Purposes of Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a), (b), and (d)
Section 2126.01 Date of Availability of a Patent as a Reference
Section 2126.02 Scope of Reference’s Disclosure Which Can Be Used to Reject Claims When the Reference Is a “Patent” but Not a “Publication”
Section 2127 Domestic and Foreign Patent Applications as Prior Art
Section 2128 “Printed Publications” as Prior Art
Section 2128.01 Level of Public Accessibility Required
Section 2128.02 Date Publication Is Available as a Reference
Section 2129 Admissions as Prior Art
Section 2130 [Reserved]
Section 2131 Anticipation — Application of 35 U.S.C. 102
Section 2131.01 Multiple Reference 35 U.S.C. 102 Rejections
Section 2131.02 Genus-Species Situations
Section 2131.03 Anticipation of Ranges
Section 2131.04 Secondary Considerations
Section 2131.05 Nonanalogous or Disparaging Prior Art
Section 2132 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)
Section 2132.01 Publications as Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) Prior Art
Section 2133 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)
Section 2133.01 Rejections of Continuation-In-Part (CIP) Applications
Section 2133.02 Rejections Based on Publications and Patents
Section 2133.03 Rejections Based on “Public Use” or “On Sale”
Section 2133.03(a) “Public Use”
Section 2133.03(b) “On Sale”
Section 2133.03(c) The “Invention”
Section 2133.03(d) “In This Country”
Section 2133.03(e) Permitted Activity; Experimental Use
Section 2133.03(e)(1) Commercial Exploitation
Section 2133.03(e)(2) Intent
Section 2133.03(e)(3) “Completeness” of the Invention
Section 2133.03(e)(4) Factors Indicative of an Experimental Purpose
Section 2133.03(e)(5) Experimentation and Degree of Supervision and Control
Section 2133.03(e)(6) Permitted Experimental Activity and Testing
Section 2133.03(e)(7) Activity of an Independent Third Party Inventor
Section 2134 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(c)
Section 2135 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(d)
Section 2135.01 The Four Requirements of Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(d)
Section 2136 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e)
Section 2136.01 Status of U.S. Application as a Reference
Section 2136.02 Content of the Prior Art Available Against the Claims
Section 2136.03 Critical Reference Date
Section 2136.04 Different Inventive Entity; Meaning of “By Another”
Section 2136.05 Overcoming a Rejection Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e)
Section 2137 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(f)
Section 2137.01 Inventorship
Section 2137.02 Applicability of Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)
Section 2138 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(g)
Section 2138.01 Interference Practice
Section 2138.02 “The Invention Was Made in This Country”
Section 2138.03 “By Another Who Has Not Abandoned, Suppressed, or Concealed It”
Section 2138.04 “Conception”
Section 2138.05 “Reduction to Practice”
Section 2138.06 “Reasonable Diligence”
Section 2139-2140 [Reserved]
Section 2141 Examination Guidelines for Determining Obviousness Under 35 U.S.C. 103
Section 2141.01 Scope and Content of the Prior Art
Section 2141.01(a) Analogous and Nonanalogous Art
Section 2141.02 Differences Between Prior Art and Claimed Invention
Section 2141.03 Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art
Section 2142 Legal Concept of Prima Facie Obviousness
Section 2143 Examples of Basic Requirements of a Prima Facie Case of Obviousness
Section 2143.01 Suggestion or Motivation To Modify the References
Section 2143.02 Reasonable Expectation of Success Is Required
Section 2143.03 All Claim Limitations Must Be Considered
Section 2144 Supporting a Rejection Under 35 U.S.C. 103
Section 2144.01 Implicit Disclosure
Section 2144.02 Reliance on Scientific Theory
Section 2144.03 Reliance on Common Knowledge in the Art or “Well Known” Prior Art
Section 2144.04 Legal Precedent as Source of Supporting Rationale
Section 2144.05 Obviousness of Similar and Overlapping Ranges, Amounts, and Proportions
Section 2144.06 Art Recognized Equivalence for the Same Purpose
Section 2144.07 Art Recognized Suitability for an Intended Purpose
Section 2144.08 Obviousness of Species When Prior Art Teaches Genus
Section 2144.09 Close Structural Similarity Between Chemical Compounds (Homologs, Analogues, Isomers)
Section 2145 Consideration of Applicant’s Rebuttal Arguments
Section 2146 Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)
Section 2150 Examination Guidelines for 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 as Amended by the First Inventor To File Provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
Section 2151 Overview of the Changes to 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 in the AIA
Section 2152 Detailed Discussion of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and (b)
Section 2152.01 Effective Filing Date of the Claimed Invention
Section 2152.02 Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Patented, Described in a Printed Publication, or in Public Use, on Sale, or Otherwise Available to the Public)
Section 2152.02(a) Patented
Section 2152.02(b) Described in a Printed Publication
Section 2152.02(c) In Public Use
Section 2152.02(d) On Sale
Section 2152.02(e) Otherwise Available to the Public
Section 2152.02(f) No Requirement of “By Others”
Section 2152.03 Admissions
Section 2152.04 The Meaning of “Disclosure”
Section 2153 Prior Art Exceptions Under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)
Section 2153.01 Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) To AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Grace Period Inventor Or Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception)
Section 2153.01(a) Grace Period Inventor Disclosure Exception
Section 2153.01(b) Grace Period Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception
Section 2153.02 Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(B) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Inventor Or Inventor-Originated Prior Public Disclosure Exception)
Section 2154 Provisions Pertaining to Subject Matter in a U.S. Patent or Application Effectively Filed Before the Effective Filing Date of the Claimed Invention
Section 2154.01 Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) “U.S. Patent Documents”
Section 2154.01(a) WIPO Published Applications
Section 2154.01(b) Determining When Subject Matter Was Effectively Filed Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(d)
Section 2154.01(c) Requirement Of “Names Another Inventor”
Section 2154.02 Prior Art Exceptions Under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2)
Section 2154.02(a) Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) (Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception)
Section 2154.02(b) Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) (Inventor or Inventor-Originated Prior Public Disclosure Exception)
Section 2154.02(c) Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) (Common Ownership or Obligation of Assignment)
Section 2155 Use of Affidavits or Declarations Under 37 CFR 1.130 To Overcome Prior Art Rejections
Section 2155.01 Showing That the Disclosure Was Made by the Inventor or a Joint Inventor
Section 2155.02 Showing That the Subject Matter Disclosed Had Been Previously Publicly Disclosed by the Inventor or a Joint Inventor
Section 2155.03 Showing That the Disclosure was Made, or That Subject Matter had Been Previously Publicly Disclosed, by Another Who Obtained the Subject Matter Disclosed Directly or Indirectly From the Inventor or a Joint Inventor
Section 2155.04 Enablement
Section 2155.05 Who May File an Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130
Section 2155.06 Situations in Which an Affidavit or Declaration Is Not Available
Section 2156 Joint Research Agreements
Section 2157 Improper Naming of Inventors
Section 2158 AIA 35 U.S.C. 103
Section 2159 Applicability Date Provisions and Determining Whether an Application Is Subject to the First Inventor To File Provisions of the AIA
Section 2159.01 Applications Filed Before March 16, 2013
Section 2159.02 Applications Filed on or After March 16, 2013
Section 2159.03 Applications Subject to the AIA but Also Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date Before March 16, 2013
Section 2159.04 Applicant Statement in Transition Applications Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date on or After March 16, 2013
Section 2160 [Reserved]
Section 2161 Three Separate Requirements for Specification Under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
Section 2161.01 Computer Programming, Computer Implemented Inventions, and 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
Section 2162 Policy Underlying 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
Section 2163 Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications Under the 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph, “Written Description” Requirement
Section 2163.01 Support for the Claimed Subject Matter in Disclosure
Section 2163.02 Standard for Determining Compliance With the Written Description Requirement
Section 2163.03 Typical Circumstances Where Adequate Written Description Issue Arises
Section 2163.04 Burden on the Examiner with Regard to the Written Description Requirement
Section 2163.05 Changes to the Scope of Claims
Section 2163.06 Relationship of Written Description Requirement to New Matter
Section 2163.07 Amendments to Application Which Are Supported in the Original Description
Section 2163.07(a) Inherent Function, Theory, or Advantage
Section 2163.07(b) Incorporation by Reference
Section 2164 The Enablement Requirement
Section 2164.01 Test of Enablement
Section 2164.01(a) Undue Experimentation Factors
Section 2164.01(b) How to Make the Claimed Invention
Section 2164.01(c) How to Use the Claimed Invention
Section 2164.02 Working Example
Section 2164.03 Relationship of Predictability of the Art and the Enablement Requirement
Section 2164.04 Burden on the Examiner Under the Enablement Requirement
Section 2164.05 Determination of Enablement Based on Evidence as a Whole
Section 2164.05(a) Specification Must Be Enabling as of the Filing Date
Section 2164.05(b) Specification Must Be Enabling to Persons Skilled in the Art
Section 2164.06 Quantity of Experimentation
Section 2164.06(a) Examples of Enablement Issues-Missing Information
Section 2164.06(b) Examples of Enablement Issues — Chemical Cases
Section 2164.06(c) Examples of Enablement Issues – Computer Programming Cases
Section 2164.07 Relationship of Enablement Requirement to Utility Requirement of 35 U.S.C. 101
Section 2164.08 Enablement Commensurate in Scope With the Claims
Section 2164.08(a) Single Means Claim
Section 2164.08(b) Inoperative Subject Matter
Section 2164.08(c) Critical Feature Not Claimed
Section 2165 The Best Mode Requirement
Section 2165.01 Considerations Relevant to Best Mode
Section 2165.02 Best Mode Requirement Compared to Enablement Requirement
Section 2165.03 Requirements for Rejection for Lack of Best Mode
Section 2165.04 Examples of Evidence of Concealment
Section 2171 Two Separate Requirements for Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 112 (b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Second Paragraph
Section 2172 Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention
Section 2172.01 Unclaimed Essential Matter
Section 2173 Claims Must Particularly Point Out and Distinctly Claim the Invention
Section 2173.01 Interpreting the Claims
Section 2173.02 Determining Whether Claim Language is Definite
Section 2173.03 Correspondence Between Specification and Claims
Section 2173.04 Breadth Is Not Indefiniteness
Section 2173.05 Specific Topics Related to Issues Under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Second Paragraph
Section 2173.05(a) New Terminology
Section 2173.05(b) Relative Terminology
Section 2173.05(c) Numerical Ranges and Amounts Limitations
Section 2173.05(d) Exemplary Claim Language (“for example,” “such as”)
Section 2173.05(e) Lack of Antecedent Basis
Section 2173.05(f) Reference to Limitations in Another Claim
Section 2173.05(g) Functional Limitations
Section 2173.05(h) Alternative Limitations
Section 2173.05(i) Negative Limitations
Section 2173.05(j) Old Combination
Section 2173.05(k) Aggregation [Reserved]
Section 2173.05(l) [Reserved]
Section 2173.05(m) Prolix
Section 2173.05(n) Multiplicity
Section 2173.05(o) Double Inclusion
Section 2173.05(p) Claim Directed to Product-By- Process or Product and Process
Section 2173.05(q) “Use” Claims
Section 2173.05(r) Omnibus Claim
Section 2173.05(s) Reference to Figures or Tables
Section 2173.05(t) Chemical Formula
Section 2173.05(u) Trademarks or Trade Names in a Claim
Section 2173.05(v) Mere Function of Machine
Section 2173.06 Practice Compact Prosecution
Section 2174 Relationship Between the Requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112(a) and (b) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First and Second Paragraphs
Section 2181 Identifying and Interpreting a 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, Sixth Paragraph Limitation
Section 2182 Search and Identification of the Prior Art
Section 2183 Making a Prima Facie Case of Equivalence
Section 2184 Determining Whether an Applicant Has Met the Burden of Proving Nonequivalence After a Prima Facie Case Is Made
Section 2185 Related Issues Under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or (b) and Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First or Second Paragraphs
Section 2186 Relationship to the Doctrine of Equivalents
Section 2190 Prosecution Laches

Patentability

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