Selected General / Legal Patent Information

Rulemaking and Implementation Materials
Keywords
•changes to support electronic filing and prosecution of patent applications (e.g., 37 CFR 1.4 signatures) •color drawings & photographs •continuations •correspondence/ Express Mail •counterterrorism applications made special •data tables and sequence listings •formats & style requirements •incorporation by reference •models, exhibits, specimens •patent application publication •patent term adjustment •petitions •preliminary amendments •prior filed material •small business •soliciting applicant's knowledge •supplemental replies - pendency reduction measures •translation	• Changes To Support Implementation of the United States Patent and Trademark Office 21st Century Strategic Plan (Final Rule) [PDF] (21SEP2004) [more information]
	• Patent Business Goals (PBG) - Final Rule
	• American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA)
• amendments •appeals •application number •certificate of mailing •claims •continuation/division CPA •correspondence/signature •design patents •drawings •exceptions to secrecy •small business/entity • Express Mail •facsimile transmission •fees •filing date •foreign priority • foreign filing license •format & style •government interest patents •IDS •inventors names at filing •inventorship correction •national stage PCT •oath/declaration •patent models •public protest applications •refunds •reissue •restrictions •revival of provisionals •secrecy order •SIR CPA: Continued Prosecution Application IDS:Information Disclosure Statement PCT: Patent Cooperation Treaty SIR: Statutory Invention Registration	• Final Rule: Changes to Patent Practice and Procedure, (effective 1DEC1997)
Public Comment(s) on Proposed Practice Changes
	• Comments Received
Announcements and Presentations
	• Current Announcements • Presentations • Notices: Recent Patent-Related pre-OG, Official Gazette (OG) & Federal Register (FR) • Pre-OG Notices
Patent Application Examination and Prosecution Tools
	• Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) • Downloadable USPTO Forms - PDF viewer required for all forms • Utility Examination Guidelines [PDF] • Written Description Examination Guidelines [PDF] • 35 USC 112, Paragraph 6 Examination Guidelines
Petitions Information
	•Reexamination Information
Patents and Information
	• List of Patent Term Extensions • International Legal Materials

Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy

International Liaison Staff

Manual of Patent Examination Procedure (MPEP) Staff

Senior Patent Attorney

Office of Petitions

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Legal Administration

Office of Patent Legal Administration

• Duties
•

General / Legal Patent Information
   Rulemaking
   Comments
   Announcements
   Exam Tools
   Petitions
   Patent Term Extensions
   International Legal
• Presentations

KEY:

=online business system

=fees

=forms

=help

=laws/regulations

=definition (glossary)

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