¶ 7.21 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a )
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over [2].
Examiner Note:
1. This paragraph must be preceded by either form paragraph 7.20 or form paragraph 7.103.
2. An explanation of the rejection applying the Graham v. Deere test must follow this form paragraph.
3. If the rejection relies upon prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e), use 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors Protection Act to determine the reference’s prior art date, unless the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly, or indirectly, from an international application which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. In other words, use pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) only if the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly or indirectly from either a national stage of an international application (application under 35 U.S.C. 371) which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000 or a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c) to an international application having an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraphs 7.12 and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the reference’s 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date.
4. If the applicability of this rejection (e.g., the availability of the prior art as a reference under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) or 35 U.S.C. 102 (b)) prevents the reference from being disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c), form paragraph 7.20.01 must follow this form paragraph.
5. If this rejection is a provisional 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection based upon a copending application that would comprise prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) if patented or published, use form paragraph 7.21.01 instead of this paragraph.
¶ 7.210 Petition to Expunge, Conclusion, No Commitment to Retain Information
the petition does not contain a commitment on the part of petitioner to retain the information to be expunged for the period of any patent with regard to which such information is submitted.
¶ 7.21.01 Provisional Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a), Common Assignee or at Least One Common Inventor
Claim [1] provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being obvious over copending Application No. [2] which has a common [3] with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effective U.S. filing date of the copending application, it would constitute prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) if published or patented. This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) is based upon a presumption of future publication or patenting of the conflicting application. [4]
This provisional rejection might be overcome either by a showing under 37 CFR 1.132 that any invention disclosed but not claimed in the copending application was derived from the inventor of this application and is thus not the invention "by another," or by a showing of a date of invention for the instant application prior to the effective U.S. filing date of the copending application under 37 CFR 1.131. This rejection might also be overcome by showing that the copending application is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). See MPEP § 706.02(l)(1) and § 706.02(l)(2).
Examiner Note:
1. This paragraph is used to provisionally reject claims not patentably distinct from the disclosure in a copending application having an earlier U.S. filing date and also having either a common assignee or at least one common inventor. This form paragraph should not be used in applications pending on or after December 10, 2004 when the copending application is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103 (a) rejection. See MPEP § 706.02(l)(3).
2. Use 35 U.S.C. 102(e ) as amended by the American Inventors Protection Act (AIPA) to determine the copending application reference’s prior art date, unless the copending application reference is based directly, or indirectly, from an international application which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. If the copending application reference is either a national stage of an international application (application under 35 U.S.C. 371 ) which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, or a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c) to an international application having an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, use pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) to determine the copending application reference’s prior art date. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraphs 7.12 and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date.
3. If the claimed invention is fully disclosed in the copending application, use paragraph 7.15.01.
4. In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--.
5. In bracket 4, insert explanation of obviousness.
6. If the claimed invention is also claimed in the copending application, a provisional obviousness double patenting rejection should additionally be made using paragraph 8.33 and 8.37.
7. If evidence indicates that the copending application is also prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and the copending application has not been disqualified as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 103 (c), a rejection should additionally be made under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) using paragraph 7.21 (e.g., applicant has named the prior inventor in response to a requirement made using paragraph 8.28).
¶ 7.21.01 Provisional Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a), Common Assignee or at Least One Common Inventor
Claim [1] provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being obvious over copending Application No. [2] which has a common [3] with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effective U.S. filing date of the copending application, it would constitute prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) if published or patented. This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) is based upon a presumption of future publication or patenting of the conflicting application. [4]
This provisional rejection might be overcome either by a showing under 37 CFR 1.132 that any invention disclosed but not claimed in the copending application was derived from the inventor of this application and is thus not the invention "by another," or by a showing of a date of invention for the instant application prior to the effective U.S. filing date of the copending application under 37 CFR 1.131. This rejection might also be overcome by showing that the copending application is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103(c) as prior art in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). See MPEP § 706.02(l)(1) and § 706.02(l)(2).
Examiner Note:
1. This paragraph is used to provisionally reject claims not patentably distinct from the disclosure in a copending application having an earlier U.S. filing date and also having either a common assignee or at least one common inventor. This form paragraph should not be used in applications pending on or after December 10, 2004 when the copending application is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103 (a) rejection. See MPEP § 706.02(l)(3).
2. Use 35 U.S.C. 102(e ) as amended by the American Inventors Protection Act (AIPA) to determine the copending application reference’s prior art date, unless the copending application reference is based directly, or indirectly, from an international application which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. If the copending application reference is either a national stage of an international application (application under 35 U.S.C. 371 ) which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, or a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c) to an international application having an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000, use pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) to determine the copending application reference’s prior art date. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraphs 7.12 and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date.
3. If the claimed invention is fully disclosed in the copending application, use paragraph 7.15.01.
4. In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--.
5. In bracket 4, insert explanation of obviousness.
6. If the claimed invention is also claimed in the copending application, a provisional obviousness double patenting rejection should additionally be made using paragraph 8.33 and 8.37.
7. If evidence indicates that the copending application is also prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) or (g) and the copending application has not been disqualified as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 103 (c), a rejection should additionally be made under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) using paragraph 7.21 (e.g., applicant has named the prior inventor in response to a requirement made using paragraph 8.28).
¶ 7.21.02 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a), Common Assignee or at Least One Common Inventor
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being obvious over [2].
The applied reference has a common [3] with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effective U.S. filing date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.132 that any invention disclosed but not claimed in the reference was derived from the inventor of this application and is thus not an invention "by another"; (2) a showing of a date of invention for the claimed subject matter of the application which corresponds to subject matter disclosed but not claimed in the reference, prior to the effective U.S. filing date of the reference under 37 CFR 1.131; or (3) an oath or declaration under 37 CFR 1.130 stating that the application and reference are currently owned by the same party and that the inventor named in the application is the prior inventor under 35 U.S.C. 104, together with a terminal disclaimer in accordance with 37 CFR 1.321(c). This rejection might also be overcome by showing that the reference is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c) as prior art in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 (a). See MPEP § 706.02(l)(1) and § 706.02(l)(2). [4]
Examiner Note:
1. This paragraph is used to reject over a reference (patent or published application) with an earlier filing date that discloses the claimed invention, and that only qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102 (e). If the reference qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) or (b), then this form paragraph should not be used (form paragraph 7.21 should be used instead). The reference must have either a common assignee or at least one common inventor. This form paragraph should not be used in applications when the reference is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. See MPEP § 706.02(l)(3).
2. 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) must be applied if the reference is one of the following:
a. a U.S. patent or a publication of a U.S. application for patent filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a);
b. a U.S. patent issued directly or indirectly from, or a U.S. or WIPO publication of, an international application if the international application has an international filing date on or after November 29, 2000.
See the Examiner Notes for form paragraph 7.12 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date of the reference.
3. Pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C 102(e) must be applied if the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly, or indirectly, from an international application filed prior to November 29, 2000. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraph 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date of the reference.
4. In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--.
5. In bracket 4, insert explanation of obviousness.
¶ 7.21.02 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a), Common Assignee or at Least One Common Inventor
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being obvious over [2].
The applied reference has a common [3] with the instant application. Based upon the earlier effective U.S. filing date of the reference, it constitutes prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e). This rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.132 that any invention disclosed but not claimed in the reference was derived from the inventor of this application and is thus not an invention "by another"; (2) a showing of a date of invention for the claimed subject matter of the application which corresponds to subject matter disclosed but not claimed in the reference, prior to the effective U.S. filing date of the reference under 37 CFR 1.131; or (3) an oath or declaration under 37 CFR 1.130 stating that the application and reference are currently owned by the same party and that the inventor named in the application is the prior inventor under 35 U.S.C. 104, together with a terminal disclaimer in accordance with 37 CFR 1.321(c). This rejection might also be overcome by showing that the reference is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c) as prior art in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 (a). See MPEP § 706.02(l)(1) and § 706.02(l)(2). [4]
Examiner Note:
1. This paragraph is used to reject over a reference (patent or published application) with an earlier filing date that discloses the claimed invention, and that only qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102 (e). If the reference qualifies as prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) or (b), then this form paragraph should not be used (form paragraph 7.21 should be used instead). The reference must have either a common assignee or at least one common inventor. This form paragraph should not be used in applications when the reference is disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c) as prior art in a 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection. See MPEP § 706.02(l)(3).
2. 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) must be applied if the reference is one of the following:
a. a U.S. patent or a publication of a U.S. application for patent filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a);
b. a U.S. patent issued directly or indirectly from, or a U.S. or WIPO publication of, an international application if the international application has an international filing date on or after November 29, 2000.
See the Examiner Notes for form paragraph 7.12 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date of the reference.
3. Pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C 102(e) must be applied if the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly, or indirectly, from an international application filed prior to November 29, 2000. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraph 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date of the reference.
4. In bracket 3, insert either --assignee-- or --inventor--.
5. In bracket 4, insert explanation of obviousness.
¶ 7.211 Petition to Expunge, Conclusion, No Clear Statement That Information is Trade Secret, Proprietary, and/or Subject to Protective Order, or that Submission Was Unintentional
the petition does not contain a clear statement that the information requested to be expunged is either: (1) a trade secret, proprietary, and/or subject to a protective order; or (2) was unintentionally submitted and failure to obtain its return would cause irreparable harm to the party who submitted the information or to the party in interest on whose behalf the information was submitted. [1]
Examiner Note:
In bracket 1, indicate whether any such statement was provided and, if so, explain why such statement is not clear.
¶ 7.212 Petition to Expunge, Conclusion, No Clear Identification of Information to be Expunged
the petition does not clearly identify the information requested to be expunged. [1]
Examiner Note:
In bracket 1, explain why the identification of the information requested to be expunged is not clear.
¶ 7.213 Petition to Expunge, Conclusion, No Statement That Petition Is Submitted By, or on Behalf of, Party in Interest Who Originally Submitted the Information
the petition does not contain a statement that the petition is being submitted by, or on behalf of, the party in interest who originally submitted the information.
¶ 7.214 Papers Not Returned, Pro Se
Papers in an application that has received a filing date pursuant to 37 CFR 1.53 ordinarily will not be returned. If applicant has not preserved copies of the papers, the Office will furnish copies at applicant’s expense. See 37 CFR 1.19 for a list of the current fees. See MPEP § 724.05 for information pertaining to petitions to expunge information.
¶ 7.21 Rejection, 35 U.S.C. 103(a )
Claim [1] rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over [2].
Examiner Note:
1. This paragraph must be preceded by either form paragraph 7.20 or form paragraph 7.103.
2. An explanation of the rejection applying the Graham v. Deere test must follow this form paragraph.
3. If the rejection relies upon prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e), use 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as amended by the American Inventors Protection Act to determine the reference’s prior art date, unless the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly, or indirectly, from an international application which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. In other words, use pre-AIPA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) only if the reference is a U.S. patent issued directly or indirectly from either a national stage of an international application (application under 35 U.S.C. 371) which has an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000 or a continuing application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121 or 365(c) to an international application having an international filing date prior to November 29, 2000. See the Examiner Notes for form paragraphs 7.12 and 7.12.01 to assist in the determination of the reference’s 35 U.S.C. 102(e) date.
4. If the applicability of this rejection (e.g., the availability of the prior art as a reference under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) or 35 U.S.C. 102 (b)) prevents the reference from being disqualified under 35 U.S.C. 103 (c), form paragraph 7.20.01 must follow this form paragraph.
5. If this rejection is a provisional 35 U.S.C. 103(a) rejection based upon a copending application that would comprise prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(e) if patented or published, use form paragraph 7.21.01 instead of this paragraph.