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ARTICLE · 02 SEPTEMBER 2016

Help The USPTO Leverage Prior Art From Related Patent Applications

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The USPTO is seeking input on how it can leverage prior art information available on-line in related patent applications in order to "improve patent examination quality and efficiency"...

United StatesIntellectual Property
Courtenay Brinckerhoff
Courtenay Brinckerhoff
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The USPTO is seeking input on how it can leverage prior art information available on-line in related patent applications in order to "improve patent examination quality and efficiency" and reduce "applicant's burden to provide this information to the USPTO." The USPTO will be hosting a roundtable on this issue at its Alexandria, Virginia headquarters on September 28, 2016, at 1:00 pm, and solicits written comments by October 28, 2016.

Leveraging Prior Art To Improve Patent Quality

As set forth in the August 29, 2016 Federal Register Notice, the USPTO is seeking stakeholder input on "how the USPTO can better leverage applicant's other applications having the same or substantially the same disclosure ... as the U.S. application under examination, to provide examiners with relevant information as early as possible." According to the Notice, the "USPTO believes that providing this information at the earliest possible stage of prosecution ... can improve the

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