How does the USPTO get prior art?

How do USPTO patent examiners get prior art? When examining patent applications, USPTO examiners get relevant prior art through two primary means: the patent examiner searches the prior art; and relevant prior art is submitted for the examiner’s consideration. The active approach of the examiner searching prior art is straightforward and no different than what […]

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IDS Fees and Deadlines: When to file and how much?

USPTO IDS Fees Depend upon Timing Applicants have an obligation to tell the USPTO about known prior art that is relevant to their patent applications. This duty of disclosure is met by submitting an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) which might carry a USPTO in certain circumstances. Whether any USPTO fees are required for filing an […]

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What is an Information Disclosure Statement or IDS?

What is an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)? A patent applicant has a duty to disclose to the USPTO all known prior art or other information that may be material to the patentability of the invention in a pending application. To satisfy this duty of candor, the prior art information must be submitted to the USPTO […]

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