MPEP § 2602 — Citation of Prior Art
Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024 · last revised R-01.2024
Citations of prior art continue to be allowed under 37 CFR 1.501. See MPEP §§ 2202 through 2206 and 2208 for the manner of making such citations and Office handling of the same. However, the Office does not accept requests for inter partes reexamination filed on or after September 16, 2012, and therefore any filed citation of prior art under 37 CFR 1.501 will only be processed in accordance with 37 CFR 1.902 in an inter partes reexamination request filed prior to September 16, 2012. See 37 CFR 1.913(b). Guidance on the former practice is available in revision 07.2022 of the 9th Edition of the MPEP.
Cited authority
- 37 CFR 1.501 Citation of prior art and written statements in patent files
- 2202 Citation of Prior Art and Written Statements
- 2206 Submission and Handling of Prior Art or Section 301 Written Statements
- 2208 Service of Prior Art or Section 301 Written Statements on Patent Owner
- 37 CFR 1.902 Processing of prior art citations during an inter partes reexamination proceeding
- 37 CFR 1.913 Persons eligible to file, and time for filing, a request for inter partes reexamination