¶ 15.15.02.aia    35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) Provisional rejection - design disclosed in another application with common inventor and/or assignee

The claim is provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2)  as being anticipated by copending Application No. [1] which has a common [2] with the instant application.

Because the copending application names another inventor and has an earlier effective filing date, it would constitute prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2), if published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b)  or patented. This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2)  is based upon a presumption of future publication or patenting of the copending application.

This provisional rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2)  might be overcome by: (1) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(a)  that the design in the reference was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor of this application and is thus not prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A); (2) perfecting a claim to priority under 35 U.S.C. 119  that antedates the reference by filing a certified priority document in the application that satisfies the enablement and description requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112(a); (3) perfecting the benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 120  by filing an application data sheet under 37 CFR 1.76  which contains a specific reference to a prior application in accordance with 37 CFR 1.78  and establishing that the prior application satisfies the enablement and description requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112(a); (4) a showing under 37 CFR 1.130(b)  of a prior public disclosure under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(B); or (5) providing a statement pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)  that the subject matter disclosed and the claimed invention, not later than the effective filing date of the claimed invention, were owned by the same person or subject to an obligation of assignment to the same person or subject to a joint research agreement.

This rejection may not be overcome by the filing of a terminal disclaimer. See In re Bartfeld, 925 F.2d 1450, 17 USPQ2d 1885 (Fed. Cir. 1991).

Examiner Note:

1. This form paragraph is used to provisionally reject over a copending application (utility or design) with an earlier filing date that discloses the claimed invention which has not been patented or published under 35 U.S.C. 122. The copending application must have either a common assignee or at least one common inventor.

2. In bracket 2, insert inventor or assignee.

3. For applications claiming priority to, or the benefit of, an application filed before March 16, 2013, this form paragraph must be preceded by form paragraphs 15.10.aia and 15.10.15.

4. This form paragraph should only be used in an application filed on or after March 16, 2013, where the claims are being examined under 35 U.S.C. 102 /103  as amended by the AIA.