Manual of Patent Examining Procedure - MPEP
Table of Contents
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ICIREPAT country codes 201.14(d)
ICIREPAT identification numbers 201.14(d)
Icon, computer generated 1504.01(a)
Identification of papers 502 , 503
Identification of priority application 201.14(d)
Identity of inventors under 35 U.S.C. 119 201.13
Idiomatic English 608.01(q)
Illustration (See Drawings )
Image File Wrapper (IFW)
Image File Wrapper (IFW) forms
Implied election 818.02 , 818.02(a) , 818.02(c)
Improper comments, inter partes reexamination 2667
Improper joinder, effect on patent 805
Improper multiple dependent claim 608.01(n)
Improvement (Jepson claim) 2129
Inaccurate claim 2173.03
Inappropriate papers in inter partes reexamination 2667
Incoming-Mail Section (See also Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) ) 501
Incomplete amendments, time for completing 710.02(c) , 714.03
Incomplete application 506 , 601.01(d) , 601.01(e)
Incomplete claim, rejection 706.03(c) , 706.03(d) , 2172.01
Incomplete protest 1901.03
Incomplete requests for ex parte reexamination 2227
Incomplete requests for ex parte reexamination 2627
Incomplete response 711.03(a) , 714.03
Incorporation by reference 103 , 201.06(c) , 201.11 201.17 , 608.01(p) , 2163.07 , 2163.07(b) , 2173.05(s)
Incorrect citation of reference 707.05(g) , 710.06
Indefinite claim 706.03(d) , 2171 to 2174
Independent claim 608.01(n)
Independent, definition 802.01
Independent inventions 802 , 802.01 , 803 , 803.02 , 806 806.04(b) , 806.06 , 808.01(a)
Independent inventor (See also Applicant ; Inventor ; Pro se applicant )
Index of claims 707.07(i) , 719.04
Index of patents, Classification, Numerical 902.03(a)
Index to the U.S. Patent Classification 902.01(a)
Industrial Security Manual (ISM) 120
Inequitable conduct (See also Duty of disclosure , Fraud ) 2001.06(c) , 2010
Informal application 506 , 702.01
Informal drawing (no longer applies) 507 , 608.02(b)
Informal requests for ex parte reexamination 2228
Informal requests for inter partes reexamination 2628
Informality, Action calling attention to 707.07(a) 707.07(j) , 710.02(b) , 714.14
Information Center (See Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC) )
Information Disclosure Statements (See also Prior art ) 201.06(d) , 609 , 1406
Information material to patentability (See also Duty of disclosure )) 2001.04 , 2001.05
Information on status of application referred to in patent 102
Information reasonably necessary for finding prior art 704.11
Information sent to applicant for guidance 703
Information submitted with protest 1901.02
Infringement action
INID codes or numbers 901.04 , 901.05(b) , 2290
Initial data capture for printing 1309
Initial examiner review of reissue 1443
Ink color
Inoperativeness 2164.07 , 2164.08(b)
INPADOC 901.06(a) , 905.06
Inquiries, Official and Congressional 203.08(a)
Inquiries regarding patent search, examination, or validity 1701
Inquiry as to status of application 102 , 203.08
Insanity 409 , 409.02
Inspection
Insufficient disclosure 608.01(p) , 706.03(c) , 2161
Insufficient reply 710.02(c) , 711.02(a) 711.03(a) , 714.03 , 2266.01 , 2666.30 , 2671
Int. Cl. (International Patent Classification) 903.09
Intellectual property compared 1512
Intellectual Property and High Technology Technical Amendments Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-273) 706.02(a)
Intent to claim 706
Inter-American Convention (See also Treaties ) 201.13
Interference Chapter 2300
Abandonment, suppression or concealment, notice 2138
Access to files 2306 , 2307.02
Action after 2308
Action after ex parte reexamination 2284
Action afterinter partes reexamination 2686.02
Action suggesting claims 2304.04
Administrative patent judge handles 2301
Allowance of losing party' s application (Estoppel) 2308.03
Applicant suggests interference with patent 2304.02
Applications in different Technology Centers 2304.01(b)
Basis of practice 2138.01 , 2301.03
Between application and patent 2301.03
Between applications 2301.03
Cancellation of losing party' s claims 2308.03(a)
Claim of foreign priority 2304.01(c)
Claim interpretation 2301.03
Claim presented corresponding to patent claim 2301.03 to 2304.05
Claims, overlapping in two applications of same party 2304.05
Claims, suggesting 1003 , 2304.04(b)
Claims corresponding to count support in specification 2163.03
Common ownership 2304.05
Conception 2138.01 , 2138.04
Concurrent with appeal 2307.05
Copending ex parte reexamination 2284
Copendinginter partes reexamination 2686 , 2686.02
Count, defined 2301.02
Counts, formulation of 2301.01
Dates, difference in effective filing 2303
Declaration 2301
Definitions 2301.02
Determining priority 2138.01
Diligence, reasonable 2138.01 , 2138.06
Disclaimer, statutory 706.03(u) , 710.02(d)
Disposal count 1705
Drawing prints 608.02(m)
Election of invention not affected 819
Entry of amendment filed in connection with motion 2308.02
Estoppel 715 , 2138.01 , 2308.03
Evidence 2138.04
Examination, Completion of 2303
Examiner suggestion 2304.04
Final disposal of claims 2308.01
Fraud 2010
Generic claims 2304.04(b)
Identification of patent, correspondingclaims presented 2304.02(a)
Inequitable conduct 2010
Inter partes questions not to bediscussed ex parte 2307.01
Interference Practice Specialist 2301 , 2302
2303 , 2304.04(a) , 2304.04(b)
2307.04 , 2308.03
Interference-in fact, no 2308.03(b)
Interfering Subject Matter 2301.03
Judicial review 1216
Jurisdiction over interference 2307 , 2308
Losing party, may obtain copy of opponent' s application 2308.03(a)
Losing party, treatment of 2308.03(a)
Lost counts 715
Motions
National Aeronautics and Space Administration or Department of Energy Ownership 2309
Order to show cause 2305
Patent in different Technology Center 2304.01(b)
Patentee suggestion 2304.03
Petition refusal to initiate 1002.02(c)
Power of attorney filed 402.08
Preparation of papers by examiner 2302
Priority time charts 2138.01
Provoking
Public use proceeding 706.03(v)
Reduction to practice 2138.01 , 2138.05
Reexamination
References pertinent to motions, made of record 1302.12
Referring an Interference to the Board, Preliminaries to 2304.01
Reissue application 1449.02 , 2303.02
Reissue application copending with interference on original patent 1449.01
Reply to suggestion for claims 710.02(c) , 2304.04(b)
Requirements for interference 2302
Requiring a claim 2304.04(b)
Requiring a priority showing 2305
Revocation of power of attorney 402.08
Search 1302.08 , 2304.01(a)
Second Interference, no 2308.03(c)
Secrecy order application 130 , 2306
Special dispatch 708.01 , 2301
Statutory basis 708.01 , 2301.01
Suggestion of claims 2304.03 to 2304.04(b)
Suggestion of claims, time limit 710.02(c)
Suspension of action pending outcome of reexamination 2284 , 2686.02
Suspension of ex parte prosecution 709 , 709.01
Suspension ofrelated applications 2307.03
Terminated open to public 103
Testimony 715.07(b)
Transfer of application 2304.01(b)
Winning party 710.02(b) , 2308
Written Description, Adequate 2304.02(d)
Interference practice specialist(s) 2301 , 2302 2304 , 2304.04(a) , 2304.04(b)
Interlibrary loans 901.06(a)
Interlineation in specification before execution 608.01
Intermediate-final product 806.04(b) , 806.05(j)
International application (See also Foreign application ; Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) )
Abstract 1826
Access 101 , 110
Agent 1807 , 1864.04
Amendment before the designated office 1893.01(a)(2) 1893.01(a)(3)
Amendment of claims before International Bureau 1853
Amino acid sequence 1823.02
Applicant 1810
Applicants different for different designated states 1817.01 , 1817.01(a)
Assignment document 301
Attorney 1807
Attorney file reference number 1821
Claims 1824
Common representative 402.09 , 1807
Confidential status 101 , 110
Content 1812
Continuation 1817.02
Continuation of 201.11(a) , 1895
Continuation-in-part 1817.02
Correspondence 1834
Definition 201
Deposit accounts 509.01
Description 1823
Designation fee 1817.01(a)
Designation of states 1817.01 , 1817.01(a)
Drawings 1825 , 1893.03(f)
Drawings missing 1825
Early national stage entry under 35 U.S.C. 371(f) 1893.01 , 1893.01(a)(2) , 1893.03(b)
Elements 1812
Errors, rectification of 1836
Fees 1827 , 1893.01(c) , 1896
Filing date 1810
Foreign filing license 1832
Formal requirements 1810
Forms (See Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Forms )
Home copy 1801 , 1848 , 1879.04 , 1895.01
International preliminary examination 1860
International search 1843
International searching authority 1840
Inventor 1817.01 , 1817.01(a) , 1820 , 1893.01(e)
Kinds of protection 1817.02
Mail service 1834 , 1834.02
Member states 1817
Microorganism deposit 1823.01
National stage 1893 to 1896
Numbering of sheets 1812
Oath 1893.01(e)
Parent to national application 201.11(a) , 1817.02
Power of attorney 1807
Precautionary designations 1817.01(a)
Prior art effect 1857.01 , 1896 , 2127 , 2136.03
Priority 201.13(b) , 1828
Priority document 201.13(b) , 1828
Publication 1857
Record copy 1801 , 1828 , 1832 , 1848
Rectification of obvious errors 1836
Refund of fees 1847 , 1850 , 1852 1865.01 , 1875.02
Representation 402.09
Request 1821
Search copy 1801 , 1840 , 1840.01 , 1847
Search fee 1827
Search report 707.05 , 1844
Secrecy order 115 , 120 , 1832
Signature of applicant 1820
Time limits 1836 , 1842 , 1843.05 1879.01 , 1879.01(a)
Title 1821
Translation for U.S. national stage 1893.01(d)
Transmittal fee 1827
Transmittal letter 1830
Unity of invention 823 , 1850 , 1875 , 1893.03(d)
Withdrawal 1859 , 1880
International classification 903.09
International patent classification 719.05
International searching authority 1840
International Trade Commission 724
International-type search 707 , 1852
Internet 502.03 , 1730
Inter partes questions 713.06
Interpretation of law, new 1207
Intervening rights
Intervention by assignee 106
Interviews 713
Advance indication of issues to be discussed 713.01
Allowed application 713.05 , 713.10
Appointment in advance 713.01
Attorney not of record 101 , 402
Authority to conduct 713.05
Before filing 713.02
Before filing amendment under 37 CFR 1.312 713.10
Before first action 706.07(b) , 713.01 , 713.02
Demonstration 713.08
During working days only 713.01
Electronic mail 502.03 , 713 , 713.01 , 713.04 , 713.05
Excluded or suspended attorney or agent 105 , 713.05
Exhibit 713.08
Exposure of other cases during 101 , 713.07
Field of search 713.02
Finally rejected application 706.07(f) , 713.09
How conducted 713.01
Inter partes questions 713.06
Interview summary form 713.04 , 2281
Local attorney 713.03 , 713.05
Made of record 713.01 , 713.04
Merged reissue/inter partes reexamination 2686.03
Model 713.08
Oral agreement not binding 713.04
Patentability report cases 713.01
Prior to first Office action 706.07(b) , 713.02
Prohibited 713.05
Protestor participation 1901.07
Question of patent validity 1701
Record of substance required 713.01 , 713.04
Reexamination
Refused 713.01 , 713.02 , 713.05 713.10
Requested in continuing application 706.07(b)
Requested in Office action 707
Sounding out 713.03
Special situations 713.05
Substance made of record 713.04 , 714.13 , 1302.03
Telephone 101 , 408 , 713.01 , 713.05 , 812.01
Time allowed 713.01
Video conference 713.01 , 713.04
Videotape showing 713.01
Where held 713.01
Invention (See Patent ; Rejection )
Inventive entity, Different 706.02(k) 706.02(l) to 706.02(l)(3)
Inventive entity, Same(overlapping subject matter) 804 804.03 , 822 , 822.01
Inventor (See also Applicant ; Pro se applicant ) 605
Common, at least one 201.03 , 201.11 706.02(k) , 2137.01
Continuing application 201.06(c)
Correction (See Correction of inventorship )
Deceased 409 to 409.01(f) , 1820
Duty of disclosure by 2001.01 , 2002.01
Foreign priority 201.13 , 2133.01
Full first or middle name required 605.04(b)
Heirs 409.01(a) , 409.01(d)
Initials as a given name 605.04(b)
Insane 409 , 409.02
International application 1812 , 1817.01 , 1817.01(a)
Legally incapacitated 409
, 409.02
Minor 409
Name change 605.04(c) , 719.02(b)
None available 409 , 409.03(b) , 603
Order of 605.04(f)
Pro se 707.07(j) , 713.01
Refuses to sign 409 , 409.03(d) , 603
Representative of Chapter 400 , 1706
Requirements 2137.01
Residence 605.02
Rule 1.53(b) 201.06(c)
Rule 1.53(d) 201.06(d)
Self-prosecuted case 707.07(j) , 713.01
Small entity status 509.02
Unavailable 409 , 409.03 , 603
Inventor' s certificate
Inventors Assistance Center 1730
IPC (International Patent Classification) 903.09
IPS (Interference Practice Specialist) 2302
Irreparable damage, Proof of 409.03(g)
Issue (See Allowance and issue )
Issue batch number (no longer used) 1303.01
Issue Classification Form/Sheet/Slip (See also Form letters and forms ) 903.07 , 903.07(b) 903.09 , 903.09(a) , 1302.09 , 1302.10 , 1302.13
Issue fee 1306
Issue of patent 1309
Issue of patent to assignee 307
Issuing in another TC without transfer 903.07(b)
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