Ninth Edition, Revision 10.2019 (June 2020)
An efficient and user-friendly searchable electronic replication of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP). Updated to the latest edition on September 26, 2020. ℹ️ Provided as a courtesy by software patent attorney, Rohit Chhabra.
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Secrecy, Access, National Security, and Foreign Filing
- 101 General [R-07.2015]
- 102 Information as to Status of an Application [R-07.2015]
- 103 Right of Public To Inspect Patent Files and Some Application Files [R-10.2019]
- 104 Power to Inspect Application [R-07.2015]
- 105 Suspended or Excluded Practitioner Cannot Inspect [R-11.2013]
- 106 Control of Inspection by Assignee [R-11.2013]
- 106.01 Rights of Assignee of Part Interest [R-11.2013]
- 110 Confidential Nature of International Applications [R-07.2015]
- 115 Review of Applications for National Security and Property Rights Issues [R-07.2015]
- 120 Secrecy Orders [R-07.2015]
Types and Status of Application; Benefit and Priority Claims
- 201 Types of Applications [R-07.2015]
- 201.01 National Applications [R-08.2017]
- 201.02 General Terms Used to Describe Applications [R-07.2015]
- 201.03 [Reserved] [R-]
- 201.04 Provisional Application [R-10.2019]
- 201.05 Reissue Application [R-11.2013]
- 201.06 Divisional Application [R-10.2019]
- 201.06(a) Former 37 CFR 1.60 Divisional Continuation Procedure [R-08.2012]
- 201.06(b) Former 37 CFR 1.62 File Wrapper Continuing Procedure [R-08.2012]
- 201.06(c) 37 CFR 1.53(b) and 37 CFR 1.63(d) Divisional-Continuation Procedure [R-10.2019]
Ownership and Assignment
- 301 Ownership/Assignability of Patents and Applications [R-10.2019]
- 301.01 Accessibility of Assignment Records [R-10.2019]
- 302 Recording of Assignment Documents [R-07.2015]
- 302.01 Assignment Document Must Be Copy for Recording [R-08.2012]
- 302.02 Translation of Assignment Document [R-08.2012]
- 302.03 Identifying Patent or Application [R-07.2015]
- 302.04 Foreign Assignee May Designate Domestic Representative [R-10.2019]
- 302.05 Address of Assignee [R-08.2012]
- 302.06 Fee for Recording [R-10.2019]
- 302.07 Assignment Document Must Be Accompanied by a Cover Sheet [R-10.2019]
Representative of Applicant or Owner
- 401 U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Cannot Aid in Selection of Patent Practitioner [R-11.2013]
- 402 Power of Attorney; Naming Representative [R-07.2015]
- 402.01 Limited Recognition in Patent Matters [R-10.2019]
- 402.02 Appointment of Power of Attorney [R-10.2019]
- 402.02(a) Appointment in Application Filed On or After September 16, 2012 [R-10.2019]
- 402.02(b) Appointment in Application Filed Before September 16, 2012 [R-10.2019]
- 402.03 Signature Requirements for Papers Filed in an Application [R-10.2019]
- 402.04 Acting in a Representative Capacity [R-10.2019]
- 402.05 Revocation of Power of Attorney [R-10.2019]
- 402.05(a) Applicant Revocation - Application Filed On or After September 16, 2012 [R-10.2019]
Receipt and Handling of Mail and Papers
- 501 Filing Papers With the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office [R-10.2019]
- 502 Depositing Correspondence [R-10.2019]
- 502.01 Correspondence Transmitted by Facsimile [R-10.2019]
- 502.02 Correspondence Signature Requirements [R-10.2019]
- 502.03 Communications via Internet Electronic Mail (email) [R-10.2019]
- 502.04 Duplicate Copies of Correspondence [R-08.2012]
- 502.05 Correspondence Transmitted by EFS-Web [R-10.2019]
- 503 Application Number and Filing Receipt [R-10.2019]
- 504 Assignment of Application for Examination [R-08.2012]
- 505 Date of Receipt Stamp [R-07.2015]
Parts, Form, and Content of Application
- 601 Content of Provisional and Nonprovisional Applications [R-07.2015]
- 601.01 Complete Application [R-07.2015]
- 601.01(a) Nonprovisional Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) [R-10.2019]
- 601.01(b) Provisional Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111(b) [R-07.2015]
- 601.01(c) Conversion to or from a Provisional Application [R-07.2015]
- 601.01(d) Application Filed Without All Pages of Specification [R-07.2015]
- 601.01(e) Nonprovisional Application Filed Without at Least One Claim [R-07.2015]
- 601.01(f) Applications Filed Without Drawings [R-10.2019]
- 601.01(g) Applications Filed Without All Figures of Drawings [R-07.2015]
- 601.02 Power of Attorney [R-07.2015]
Examination of Applications (Part I)
- 701 Statutory Authority for Examination [R-10.2019]
- 702 Requisites of the Application [R-07.2015]
- 702.01 Obviously Informal Cases [R-07.2015]
- 703 [Reserved]
- 704 Search and Requirements for Information [R-08.2012]
- 704.01 Search [R-08.2012]
- 704.02-704.09 [Reserved]
- 704.10 Requirements for Information [R-07.2015]
- 704.11 What Information May Be Required [R-11.2013]
- 704.11(a) Examples of Information Reasonably Required [R-07.2015]
Examination of Applications (Part II)
- 710 Period for Reply [R-07.2015]
- 710.01 Statutory Period [R-07.2015]
- 710.01(a) Statutory Period, How Computed [R-08.2012]
- 710.02 Shortened Statutory Period and Time Limit Actions Computed [R-07.2015]
- 710.02(a) [Reserved]
- 710.02(b) Shortened Statutory Period: Situations in Which Used [R-07.2015]
- 710.02(c) Specified Time Limits: Situations in Which Used [R-11.2013]
- 710.02(d) Difference Between Shortened Statutory Periods for Reply and Specified Time Limits [R-07.2015]
- 710.02(e) Extension of Time [R-10.2019]
- 710.03 [Reserved]
Restriction in Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111; Double Patenting
- 801 Introduction [R-07.2015]
- 802 Basis for Restriction Practice in Statute and Rules [R-07.2015]
- 802.01 Meaning of "Independent" and "Distinct" [R-08.2012]
- 802.02 Definition of Restriction [R-08.2012]
- 803 Restriction â When Proper [R-08.2017]
- 803.01 Review by Examiner with at Least Partial Signatory Authority [R-07.2015]
- 803.02 Election of Species Requirements â Markush Claims [R-10.2019]
- 803.03 Transitional Applications [R-08.2012]
- 803.03(a) Transitional Application â Linking Claim Allowable [R-08.2012]
- 803.03(b) Transitional Application â Generic Claim Allowable [R-08.2012]
Prior Art, Classification, and Search
- 901 Prior Art [R-08.2012]
- 901.01 Canceled Matter in U.S. Patent Files [R-08.2017]
- 901.01(a) Ordering of Patented and Abandoned Provisional and Nonprovisional Application Files [R-07.2015]
- 901.02 Abandoned Applications [R-07.2015]
- 901.03 Pending Applications [R-07.2015]
- 901.04 U.S. Patents [R-10.2019]
- 901.04(a) Kind Codes [R-08.2017]
- 901.05 Foreign Patent Documents [R-08.2017]
- 901.05(a) Citation Data [R-07.2015]
- 901.05(b) Other Significant Data [R-08.2012]
Matters Decided by Various U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Officials
- 1001 Statutory Authority of Director of the USPTO [R-07.2015]
- 1001.01 Modes of Exercising Authority [R-07.2015]
- 1002 Petitions to the Director of the USPTO [R-07.2015]
- 1002.01 Procedure [R-07.2015]
- 1002.02 Delegation of Authority To Decide Petitions [R-07.2015]
- 1002.02(a) [Reserved]
- 1002.02(b) Petitions and Requests Decided by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy [R-07.2015]
- 1002.02(c) Petitions and Requests Decided by the Technology Center Directors [R-10.2019]
- 1002.02(c)(1) Petitions Decided by the Director of Technology Center 3640 [R-07.2015]
- 1002.02(c)(2) Petitions and Matters Decided by the Director of Technology Center 1600 [R-07.2015]
Statutory Invention Registration (SIR); Pre-Grant Publication (PGPub) and Preissuance Submissions
- 1101 Request for Statutory Invention Registration (SIR) [R-11.2013]
- 1111 SIR Publication and Effect [R-11.2013]
- 1120 Eighteen-Month Publication of Patent Applications [R-07.2015]
- 1121 Content of a Patent Application Publication [R-07.2015]
- 1122 Requests for Nonpublication [R-07.2015]
- 1123 Rescission of a Nonpublication Request [R-07.2015]
- 1124 Notice of Foreign Filing [R-07.2015]
- 1125 Express Abandonment to Avoid Publication [R-11.2013]
- 1126 Publication Fees [R-11.2013]
- 1127 Notice of Publication [R-08.2012]
Appeal
- 1201 Introduction [R-08.2017]
- 1202 Composition of Board [R-08.2017]
- 1203 Administrative Handling [R-10.2019]
- 1204 Notice of Appeal [R-10.2019]
- 1204.01 Reinstatement of Appeal [R-10.2019]
- 1204.02 Pre-Appeal Brief Review Request and Conference Pilot Program [R-10.2019]
- 1204.03 Interviews After Notice of Appeal [R-11.2013]
- 1204.04 Official Record on Appeal [R-08.2017]
- 1205 Appeal Brief [R-11.2013]
- 1205.01 Time for Filing Appeal Brief [R-10.2019]
Allowance and Issue
- 1301 Substantially Allowable Application, Special [R-08.2012]
- 1302 [Reserved]
- 1302.01 General Review of Disclosure [R-07.2015]
- 1302.02 Requirement for a Rewritten Specification [R-08.2012]
- 1302.03 Notice of Allowability [R-07.2015]
- 1302.04 Examinerâs Amendments and Changes [R-10.2019]
- 1302.04(a) Title of Invention [R-08.2012]
- 1302.04(b) [Reserved]
- 1302.04(c) Cancellation of Claims to Nonelected Invention [R-08.2012]
- 1302.04(d) Cancellation of Claim Lost in Interference [R-08.2012]
Correction of Patents
- 1401 Reissue [R-08.2017]
- 1402 Grounds for Filing [R-10.2019]
- 1403 Diligence in Filing [R-08.2017]
- 1404 Submission of Papers Where Reissue Patent Is in Litigation [R-08.2017]
- 1405 Reissue and Patent Term [R-10.2019]
- 1406 Citation and Consideration of References Cited in Original Patent [R-08.2012]
- 1410 Content of Reissue Application [R-10.2019]
- 1410.01 Reissue Applicant and Inventor's Oath or Declaration [R-10.2019]
- 1410.02 Assignee Consent to the Reissue [R-10.2019]
- 1411 Form of Specification [R-08.2017]
Design Patents
- 1501 Statutes and Rules Applicable [R-07.2015]
- 1502 Definition of a Design [R-07.2015]
- 1502.01 Distinction Between Design and Utility Patents [R-07.2015]
- 1503 Elements of a Design Patent Application Filed Under 35 U.S.C. chapter 16 [R-08.2017]
- 1503.01 Specification [R-10.2019]
- 1503.02 Drawing [R-10.2019]
- 1504 Examination [R-10.2019]
- 1504.01 Statutory Subject Matter for Designs [R-07.2015]
- 1504.01(a) Computer-Generated Icons [R-07.2015]
- 1504.01(b) Design Comprising Multiple Articles or Multiple Parts Embodied in a Single Article [R-08.2012]
Plant Patents
- 1601 Introduction: The Act, Scope, Type of Plants Covered [R-11.2013]
- 1602 Rules Applicable [R-08.2012]
- 1603 Elements of a Plant Application [R-11.2013]
- 1604 Applicant, Oath or Declaration [R-11.2013]
- 1605 Specification and Claim [R-11.2013]
- 1606 Drawings [R-11.2013]
- 1607 Specimens [R-08.2012]
- 1608 Examination [R-11.2013]
- 1609 Report of Agricultural Research Service [R-11.2013]
- 1610 The Action [R-08.2012]
Miscellaneous
- 1701 Office Personnel Not To Express Opinion on Validity, Patentability, Expiration Date, or Enforceability of Patent [R-10.2019]
- 1701.01 Office Personnel Not To Testify [R-10.2019]
- 1702 Restrictions on Current and Former Office Employees Regarding Patent Matters [R-10.2019]
- 1703 The Official Gazette [R-10.2019]
- 1704 Application Records and Reports [R-07.2015]
- 1705 Examiner Docket, Time, and Activity Recordation [R-10.2019]
- 1720 Dissemination of Court and Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions [R-10.2019]
- 1721 Treatment of Court and Patent Trial and Appeal Board Decisions Affecting Patent and Trademark Office Policy and Practice [R-10.2019]
- 1730 Information Sources [R-10.2019]
Patent Cooperation Treaty
- 1801 Basic Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Principles [R-10.2019]
- 1802 PCT Definitions [R-07.2015]
- 1803 Reservations Under the PCT Taken by, and Notifications of Incompatibility Made by, the United States of America [R-07.2015]
- 1804 [Reserved]
- 1805 Where To File an International Application [R-10.2019]
- 1806 Applicants and Inventors [R-07.2015]
- 1807 Agent or Common Representative and General Power of Attorney [R-07.2015]
- 1808 Change in or Revocation of the Appointment of an Agent or a Common Representative [R-07.2015]
- 1809 PAIR Access [R-10.2019]
- 1810 Filing Date Requirements [R-08.2017]
Protest
- 1901 Protest Under 37 CFR 1.291 [R-10.2019]
- 1901.01 Who Can Protest [R-10.2019]
- 1901.02 Information Which Can Be Relied on in Protest [R-10.2019]
- 1901.03 How Protest Is Submitted [R-10.2019]
- 1901.04 When Can the Protest Be Submitted [R-10.2019]
- 1901.05 Acknowledgment of Protest [R-10.2019]
- 1901.06 Office Treatment of Protest [R-10.2019]
- 1901.07 Protestor Participation [R-10.2019]
- 1901.07(a) Filing of Multiple Papers Relating to Same Issues [R-10.2019]
- 1906 Supervisory Review of an Examinerâs Decision Adverse to Protestor [R-10.2019]
Duty of Disclosure
- 2000 [Reserved] [R-]
- 2000.01 Introduction [R-08.2017]
- 2001 Duty of Disclosure, Candor, and Good Faith [R-08.2017]
- 2001.01 Who Has Duty To Disclose [R-08.2017]
- 2001.02 [Reserved]
- 2001.03 To Whom Duty of Disclosure Is Owed [R-08.2017]
- 2001.04 Information Under 37 CFR 1.56(a) [R-08.2017]
- 2001.05 Materiality Under 37 CFR 1.56(b) [R-08.2017]
- 2001.06 Sources of Information under 37 CFR 1.56 [R-08.2017]
- 2001.06(a) Prior Art Cited in Related Foreign Applications [R-08.2012]
Patentability (Part I)
- 2103 Patent Examination Process [R-10.2019]
- 2104 Requirements of 35 U.S.C. 101 [R-10.2019]
- 2104.01 Barred by Atomic Energy Act [R-10.2019]
- 2105 Patent Eligible Subject Matter — Living Subject Matter [R-10.2019]
- 2106 Patent Subject Matter Eligibility [R-10.2019]
- 2106.01 [Reserved]
- 2106.02 [Reserved]
- 2106.03 Eligibility Step 1: The Four Categories of Statutory Subject Matter [R-10.2019]
- 2106.04 Eligibility Step 2A: Whether a Claim is Directed to a Judicial Exception [R-10.2019]
- 2106.04(a) Abstract Ideas [R-10.2019]
Patentability (Part II)
- 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 [R-11.2013]
- 2151 Overview of the Changes to 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 in the AIA [R-10.2019]
- 2152 Detailed Discussion of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and (b) [R-11.2013]
- 2152.01 Effective Filing Date of the Claimed Invention [R-10.2019]
- 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) [R-08.2017]
- 2152.02(a) Patented [R-11.2013]
- 2152.02(b) Described in a Printed Publication [R-11.2013]
- 2152.02(c) In Public Use [R-10.2019]
- 2152.02(d) On Sale [R-10.2019]
- 2152.02(e) Otherwise Available to the Public [R-10.2019]
Citation of Prior Art and Ex Parte Reexamination of Patents
- 2201 Introduction [R-07.2015]
- 2202 Citation of Prior Art and Written Statements [R-08.2017]
- 2203 Persons Who May Cite Prior Art or Written Statements [R-07.2015]
- 2204 Time for Filing Prior Art or Section 301 Written Statements [R-10.2019]
- 2205 Content of Prior Art or Section 301 Written Statements [R-07.2015]
- 2206 Submission and Handling of Prior Art or Section 301 Written Statements [R-10.2019]
- 2207 Entry of Court Decision in Patent File [R-07.2015]
- 2208 Service of Prior Art or Section 301 Written Statements on Patent Owner [R-08.2017]
- 2209 Ex Parte Reexamination [R-10.2019]
- 2210 Request for Ex Parte Reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302 [R-10.2019]
Interference and Derivation Proceedings
- 2301 Interference Proceedings [R-08.2017]
- 2301.01 Statutory Basis [R-08.2017]
- 2301.02 Definitions [R-08.2017]
- 2301.03 Interfering Subject Matter [R-08.2017]
- 2301.04 Applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(g) to Applications filed on or after March 16, 2013 [R-08.2017]
- 2302 Consult an Interference Practice Specialist [R-08.2017]
- 2303 Completion of Examination [R-08.2017]
- 2303.01 Issuance and Suspension [R-08.2017]
- 2303.02 Other Outstanding Issues with Patents [R-08.2017]
- 2304 Suggesting an Interference [R-08.2017]
Biotechnology
- 2401 Introduction [R-07.2015]
- 2402 The Deposit Rules [R-07.2015]
- 2403 Deposit of Biological Material [R-07.2015]
- 2403.01 Material Capable of Self- Replication [R-08.2012]
- 2403.02 Plant Material [R-10.2019]
- 2404 Need or Opportunity to Make a Deposit [R-08.2012]
- 2404.01 Biological Material That Is Known and Readily Available to the Public [R-07.2015]
- 2404.02 Biological Material That Can Be Made or Isolated Without Undue Experimentation [R-08.2012]
- 2404.03 Reference to a Deposit in the Specification [R-08.2012]
- 2405 Acceptable Depository [R-07.2015]
Maintenance Fees
- 2501 Introduction [R-07.2015]
- 2504 Patents Subject to Maintenance Fees [R-10.2019]
- 2505 [Reserved]
- 2506 Times for Submitting Maintenance Fee Payments [R-10.2019]
- 2510 Submission of Maintenance Fee Payments and Documents [R-08.2017]
- 2515 Information Required for Submission of Maintenance Fee Payment [R-07.2015]
- 2520 Maintenance Fee Amounts [R-08.2017]
- 2521 [Reserved]
- 2522 Methods of Payment [R-10.2019]
- 2530 Special Acceptance of Maintenance Fee Payments Containing Informalities [R-07.2015]
Optional Inter Partes Reexamination
- 2601 Introduction [R-07.2015]
- 2601.01 Flowcharts [R-07.2015]
- 2602 Citation of Prior Art [R-07.2015]
- 2609 Inter Partes Reexamination [R-07.2015]
- 2610 Request for Inter Partes Reexamination [R-11.2013]
- 2611 Time for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination [R-11.2013]
- 2612 Persons Who May File a Request [R-11.2013]
- 2613 Representative of Requester [R-08.2012]
- 2614 Content of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination [R-11.2013]
- 2615 Fee for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination [R-11.2013]
Patent Terms and Extensions
- 2701 Patent Term [R-10.2019]
- 2710 Term Extensions or Adjustments for Delays Within the USPTO Under 35 U.S.C. 154 [R-07.2015]
- 2720 Applications Filed Between June 8, 1995, and May 28, 2000 [R-08.2017]
- 2730 Applications Filed on or After May 29, 2000; Grounds for Adjustment [R-07.2015]
- 2731 Period of Adjustment [R-10.2019]
- 2732 Reduction of Period of Adjustment of Patent Term [R-10.2019]
- 2733 Patent Term Adjustment Determination [R-08.2017]
- 2734 Application for Patent Term Adjustment; Due Care Showing [R-10.2019]
- 2735 [Reserved]
- 2736 Third Party Papers [R-07.2015]
Supplemental Examination
- 2801 Introduction [R-11.2013]
- 2802 Supplemental Examination [R-10.2019]
- 2803 Persons Who May File a Request for Supplemental Examination [R-11.2013]
- 2803.01 Inquiries from Persons Other Than the Patent Owner [R-11.2013]
- 2803.02 Public Access [R-11.2013]
- 2804 Representative of Patent Owner [R-11.2013]
- 2804.01 Withdrawal of Attorney or Agent [R-11.2013]
- 2805 Correspondence with Patent Owner; Patent Owner Address [R-07.2015]
- 2806 How to File Papers in a Supplemental Examination Proceeding and in Any Resulting Ex Parte Reexamination Proceeding [R-07.2015]
- 2807 Format of Papers Filed in a Supplemental Examination Proceeding [R-11.2013]
International Design Applications
- 2901 Basic Hague Agreement Principles [R-07.2015]
- 2902 Definitions [R-07.2015]
- 2903 Declarations under the Hague Agreement Made by the United States of America [R-07.2015]
- 2904 Who May File An International Design Application [R-07.2015]
- 2905 Where to File An International Design Application [R-07.2015]
- 2905.01 Filing Through the USPTO as an Office of Indirect Filing [R-07.2015]
- 2906 Filing Date Requirements [R-07.2015]
- 2907 International Registration and Date of the International Registration [R-07.2015]
- 2908 Filing Date in the United States [R-07.2015]
- 2909 Contents of the International Design Application [R-07.2015]
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