The USPTO has published the latest revision of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP), Eighth Edition, Revision 9 (August 2012).
The MPEP is based on 37 Code of Federal Regulations, the PTO rules, and Title 35 of the United States Code, the federal patent law.
The MPEP gives detailed guidance to patent attorneys, agents and examiners to help interpret the rules and laws in situations that may arise during the prosecution of a patent application in the PTO. For example, Chapter 2100 of the MPEP gives detailed guidance how to persuade an examiner as to the basis for granting a patent for a given US patent application. I have found it very helpful at times in my practice as a patent attorney.
The USPTO has promised to update the MPEO online frequently and in a matter of hours rather than weeks and months, which I expect will reduce the utility of the paper version.
Here is the latest revision of the MPEP
Copyright © 2012 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
