Today, the USPTO announced that it has revised the MPEP:
"On Jan. 25, the ninth edition, Revision 08.2017, of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) was made electronically available as an update to the eMPEP.
The revision includes changes to chapters 200, 700-1000, 1200, 1400, 1500, 1800, 2000-2300, 2500, and 2700. Each section that has been substantively revised in this revision (published January 2018) has a revision indicator of [R-08.2017], meaning that the section has been updated as of August 2017. Appendices L and R were revised to include the laws and rules current as of Aug. 31, 2017, and Appendices T and AI were revised to reflect the PCT Articles, Rules, and Administrative Instructions that were in force effective July 1, 2017.
Learn more on the MPEP web page."
The MPEP is published by the USPTO to give guidance to examiners. However, I found it useful because it gives details not discussed in the 35 USC, 37 CFR, and federal court decisions, and also the USPTO's interpretation of the legal authority. It is free, in PDF and HTML, and searchable.
Copyright © 2018 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
