¶ 7.37 Arguments Are Not Persuasive

Applicant’s arguments filed [1] have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. [2]

Examiner Note:

• 1. The examiner must address all arguments which have not already been responded to in the statement of the rejection.
• 2. In bracket 2, provide explanation as to non-persuasiveness.

¶ 7.38 Arguments Are Moot Because of New Ground of Rejection

Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) [1] have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, insert the claim number(s).
• 2. The examiner must, however, address any arguments presented by the applicant which are still relevant to any references being applied.

¶ 7.38.01 Arguments Persuasive, Previous Rejection/Objection Withdrawn

Applicant’s arguments, see [1], filed [2], with respect to [3] have been fully considered and are persuasive. The [4] of [5] has been withdrawn.

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, identify the page(s) and line number(s) from applicant’s remarks which form the basis for withdrawing the previous rejection/objection.
• 2. In bracket 3, insert claim number, figure number, the specification, the abstract, etc.
• 3. In bracket 4, insert rejection or objection.
• 4. In bracket 5, insert claim number, figure number, the specification, the abstract, etc.

¶ 7.38.02 Arguments Persuasive, New Ground(s) of Rejection

Applicant’s arguments, see [1], filed [2], with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) [3] under [4] have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of [5].

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, identify the page(s) and line number(s) from applicant’s remarks which form the basis for withdrawing the previous rejection.
• 2. In bracket 3, insert the claim number(s).
• 3. In bracket 4, insert the statutory basis for the previous rejection.
• 4. In bracket 5, insert the new ground(s) of rejection, e.g., different interpretation of the previously applied reference, newly found prior art reference(s), and provide an explanation of the rejection.

¶ 7.37.01 Unpersuasive Argument: Age of Reference(s)

In response to applicant’s argument based upon the age of the references, contentions that the reference patents are old are not impressive absent a showing that the art tried and failed to solve the same problem notwithstanding its presumed knowledge of the references. See In re Wright, 569 F.2d 1124, 193 USPQ 332 (CCPA 1977).

Examiner Note:

This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.02 Unpersuasive Argument: Bodily Incorporation

In response to applicant’s argument that [1], the test for obviousness is not whether the features of a secondary reference may be bodily incorporated into the structure of the primary reference; nor is it that the claimed invention must be expressly suggested in any one or all of the references. Rather, the test is what the combined teachings of the references would have suggested to those of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981).

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, briefly restate applicant’s arguments with respect to the issue of bodily incorporation.
• 2. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.03 Unpersuasive Argument: Hindsight Reasoning

In response to applicant’s argument that the examiner’s conclusion of obviousness is based upon improper hindsight reasoning, it must be recognized that any judgment on obviousness is in a sense necessarily a reconstruction based upon hindsight reasoning. But so long as it takes into account only knowledge which was within the level of ordinary skill at the time the claimed invention was made, and does not include knowledge gleaned only from the applicant’s disclosure, such a reconstruction is proper. See In re McLaughlin, 443 F.2d 1392, 170 USPQ 209 (CCPA 1971).

Examiner Note:

This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.04 Unpersuasive Argument: No Teaching, Suggestion, or Motivation To Combine

In response to applicant’s argument that there is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation to combine the references, the examiner recognizes that obviousness may be established by combining or modifying the teachings of the prior art to produce the claimed invention where there is some teaching, suggestion, or motivation to do so found either in the references themselves or in the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art. See In re Fine, 837 F.2d 1071, 5 USPQ2d 1596 (Fed. Cir. 1988), In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 21 USPQ2d 1941 (Fed. Cir. 1992), and KSR International Co. v. Teleflex, Inc., 550 U.S. 398, 82 USPQ2d 1385 (2007). In this case, [1].

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, explain where the teaching, suggestion, or motivation for the rejection is found, either in the references, or in the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art.
• 2. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.05 Unpersuasive Argument: Nonanalogous Art

In response to applicant’s argument that [1] is nonanalogous art, it has been held that a prior art reference must either be in the field of the inventor’s endeavor or, if not, then be reasonably pertinent to the particular problem with which the inventor was concerned, in order to be relied upon as a basis for rejection of the claimed invention. See In re Oetiker, 977 F.2d 1443, 24 USPQ2d 1443 (Fed. Cir. 1992). In this case, [2].

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, enter the name of the reference which applicant alleges is nonanalogous.
• 2. In bracket 2, explain why the reference is analogous art.
• 3. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.06 Unpersuasive Argument: Number of References

In response to applicant’s argument that the examiner has combined an excessive number of references, reliance on a large number of references in a rejection does not, without more, weigh against the obviousness of the claimed invention. See In re Gorman, 933 F.2d 982, 18 USPQ2d 1885 (Fed. Cir. 1991).

Examiner Note:

This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.07 Unpersuasive Argument: The Invention Obtains Result Not Contemplated by Prior Art

In response to applicant’s argument that [1], the fact that the inventor has recognized another advantage which would flow naturally from following the suggestion of the prior art cannot be the basis for patentability when the differences would otherwise be obvious. See Ex parte Obiaya, 227 USPQ 58, 60 (Bd. Pat. App. & Inter. 1985).

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, briefly restate applicant’s arguments with respect to the issue of results not contemplated by the prior art.
• 2. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.08 Unpersuasive Argument: Arguing Limitations Which Are Not Claimed

In response to applicant’s argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., [1]) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, recite the features upon which applicant relies, but which are not recited in the claim(s).
• 2. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.09 Unpersuasive Argument: Intended Use

In response to applicant’s argument that [1], a recitation of the intended use of the claimed invention must result in a structural difference between the claimed invention and the prior art in order to patentably distinguish the claimed invention from the prior art. If the prior art structure is capable of performing the intended use, then it meets the claim.

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, briefly restate applicant’s arguments with respect to the issue of intended use.
• 2. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.10 Unpersuasive Argument: Limitation(s) in Preamble

Applicant’s arguments rely on language solely recited in preamble recitations in claim(s) [1]. When reading the preamble in the context of the entire claim, the recitation [2] is not limiting because the body of the claim describes a complete invention and the language recited solely in the preamble does not provide any distinct definition of any of the claimed invention’s limitations. Thus, the preamble of the claim(s) is not considered a limitation and is of no significance to claim construction. See Pitney Bowes, Inc. v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 182 F.3d 1298, 1305, 51 USPQ2d 1161, 1165 (Fed. Cir. 1999). See MPEP § 2111.02.

Examiner Note:

• 1. In bracket 1, identify the claim(s) the applicant’s unpersuasive argument addresses.
• 2. In bracket 2, briefly restate the recitation about which applicant is arguing.
• 3. This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.11 Unpersuasive Argument: General Allegation of Patentability

Applicant’s arguments fail to comply with 37 CFR 1.111(b) because they amount to a general allegation that the claims define a patentable invention without specifically pointing out how the language of the claims patentably distinguishes them from the references.

Examiner Note:

This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.12 Unpersuasive Argument: Novelty Not Clearly Pointed Out

Applicant’s arguments do not comply with 37 CFR 1.111(c) because they do not clearly point out the patentable novelty which he or she thinks the claims present in view of the state of the art disclosed by the references cited or the objections made. Further, they do not show how the amendments avoid such references or objections.

Examiner Note:

This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.

¶ 7.37.13 Unpersuasive Argument: Arguing Against References Individually

In response to applicant’s arguments against the references individually, one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).

Examiner Note:

This form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraph 7.37.