EB: Patent Prosecution Process: Notes Wednesday, April 6th

Several Steps:

1. Application

2. Examination by PTO

3. Office Action

4. Response to Office Action

5. Subsequent Office Action

6. Final Rejection or Allowance

7. Issued

What is the application?

• CFR (Code of Federal Regulation); promulgated by PTO, Dept. of Commerce
• Title 37 CFR - Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights
• 37 CFR 1.51: An application needs:
  • Specification including claims (35 USC 112)
  • Drawings (35 USC 113)
  • Oath = you are the first inventor, to the best of your knowledge, and you are not committing fraud

Section 112: Describe the invention, and the manner/process of using it; there must be enough detail so that a person of ordinary skill could understand the invention; Must provide the alternative methods of using your patent

Section 113: Gives details of where to put text/number lables etc.