Manual of Patent Examining Procedure - MPEP

Table of Contents


800 Restriction in Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111; Double Patenting

800 Restriction in Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111; Double Patenting
-    801 Introduction
-    802 Basis for Practice in Statute and Rules
-    -    802.01 Meaning of "Independent" and "Distinct"
-    -    802.02 Definition of Restriction
-    803 Restriction - When Proper
-    -    803.01 Review by Examiner with at Least Partial Signatory Authority
-    -    803.02 Markush Claims
-    -    803.03 Transitional Applications
-    -    -    803.03(a) Transitional Application - Linking Claim Allowable
-    -    -    803.03(b) Transitional Application - Generic Claim Allowable
-    -    803.04 Nucleotide Sequences
-    804 Definition of Double Patenting
-    -    804.01 Prohibition of Double Patenting Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 121
-    -    804.02 Avoiding a Double Patenting Rejection
-    -    804.03 Commonly Owned Inventions of Different Inventive Entities ; Non-Commonly Owned Inventions Subject to a Joint Research Agreement
-    -    804.04 Submission to Technology Center Director
-    805 Effect of Improper Joinder in Patent
-    806 Determination of Distinctness or Independence of Claimed Inventions
-    -    806.01 Compare Claimed Subject Matter
-    -    806.03 Single Embodiment, Claims Defining Same Essential Features
-    -    806.04 Genus and/or Species Inventions
-    -    -    806.04(b) Species May Be Independent or Related Inventions
-    -    -    806.04(d) Definition of a Generic Claim
-    -    -    806.04(e) Claims Limited to Species
-    -    -    806.04(f) Restriction Between Mutually Exclusive Species
-    -    -    806.04(h) Species Must Be Patentably Distinct From Each Other
-    -    -    806.04(i) Generic Claims Presented After Issue of Species
-    -    806.05 Related Inventions
-    -    -    806.05(a) Combination and Subcombination
-    -    -    806.05(c) Criteria of Distinctness Between Combination and Subcombination
-    -    -    806.05(d) Subcombinations Usable Together
-    -    -    806.05(e) Process and Apparatus for Its Practice
-    -    -    806.05(f) Process of Making and Product Made
-    -    -    806.05(g) Apparatus and Product Made
-    -    -    806.05(h) Product and Process of Using
-    -    -    806.05(i) Product, Process of Making, and Process of Using
-    -    -    806.05(j) Related Products; Related Processes
-    -    806.06 Independent Inventions
-    807 Patentability Report Practice Has No Effect on Restriction Practice
-    808 Reasons for Insisting Upon Restriction
-    -    808.01 Reasons for Holding of Independence or Distinctness
-    -    -    808.01(a) Species
-    -    808.02 Establishing Burden
-    809 Linking Claims
-    -    809.02(a) Election of Species Required
-    -    809.03 Restriction Between Linked Inventions
-    810 Action on the Merits
-    811 Time for Making Requirement
-    -    811.02 New Requirement After Compliance With Preceding Requirement
-    -    811.03 Repeating After Withdrawal Proper
-    -    811.04 Proper Even Though Grouped Together in Parent Application
-    812 Who Should Make the Requirement
-    -    812.01 Telephone Restriction Practice
-    814 Indicate Exactly How Application Is To Be Restricted
-    815 Make Requirement Complete
-    817 Outline of Letter for Restriction Requirement
-    818 Election and Reply
-    -    818.01 Election Fixed by Action on Claims
-    -    818.02 Election Other Than Express
-    -    -    818.02(a) By Originally Presented Claims
-    -    -    818.02(b) Generic Claims Only - No Election of Species
-    -    -    818.02(c) By Optional Cancellation of Claims
-    -    818.03 Express Election and Traverse
-    -    -    818.03(a) Reply Must Be Complete
-    -    -    818.03(b) Must Elect, Even When Re-quirement Is Traversed
-    -    -    818.03(c) Must Traverse To Preserve Right of Petition
-    -    -    818.03(d) Traverse of Restriction Requirement With Linking Claims
-    819 Office Generally Does Not Permit Shift
-    821 Treatment of Claims Held To Be Drawn to Nonelected Inventions
-    -    821.01 After Election With Traverse
-    -    821.02 After Election Without Traverse
-    -    821.03 Claims for Different Invention Added After an Office Action
-    -    821.04 Rejoinder
-    -    -    821.04(a) Rejoinder Between Product Inventions; Rejoinder Between Process Inventions
-    -    -    821.04(b) Rejoinder of Process Requiring an Allowable Product
-    822 Claims to Inventions That Are Not Distinct in Plural Applications of Same Inventive Entity
-    -    822.01 Copending Before the Examiner
-    823 Unity of Invention Under the Patent Cooperation Treaty

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