修正過程的識別符

修正過程的識別符

其他參考：http://enpan.blogspot.com/2009/01/37-cfr-1121c-claims.html

在美國專利審理與答辯過程中會以識別符表示各權利項的狀態，這些標示在各權利範圍題號後的識別符規定可參考MPEP714（Amendments, Applicant’s Action）。

識別符有：
(Original)表示該項權利範圍自原申請案提出後沒變
(Currently amended)表示本次有修正
(Canceled)表示該項被刪除
(Withdrawn)表示該項暫時被撤出，不受審查
(Previously presented)表示該項曾經被修改過，但本次並未有變動
(New)表示該項在本次為新增範圍
(Not entered)表次該項曾在修正後被拒絕審查（The status identifier (not entered) is used for claims that were previously proposed in an amendment (e.g., after-final) that was denied entry.）
還有個識別符為(withdrawn – currently amended)，表示該項即便被暫時撤出，但申請人仍提出修改（The status identifier (withdrawn – currently amended) is also acceptable for a withdrawn claim that is being currently amended）

MPEP中提供一些修正標示的範例：

上述識別符也有其他可替代的表示：

曾有朋友問我，withdrawn與canceled的差別在哪裡，如果權利範圍被canceled可恢復嗎？
我的回答是：
"withdraw"顯然是暫時不被審查，但仍保留該項權利，可能會在適當的答辯與修正過程恢復（Original）或是被修改（Currently amended），但是"Canceled"表示該項已經被刪除，如果申請人想要恢復此項範圍，僅能用新增（New，新增一個項次）的方式將該項範圍併回來。

在此處MPEP也有支持我講法的規定：僅能以新增範圍的方式恢復（reinstate）之前刪除的範圍（(5) Reinstatement of previously canceled claim. A claim which was previously canceled may be reinstated only by adding the claim as a “new” claim with a new claim number.）

曾有朋友問我，經過限制選擇後有權利範圍未被選擇，但被標示為"Canceled"，該項如何處置？
答案應該是：
限制選擇而未被選擇的項次應標示(Withdrawn)，如果未被選擇的範圍仍有修改（應標示刪除線或下底線），可標示(Withdrawn)或(withdrawn - currently amended)；若該項被刪除，還是要標示(Canceled)，如上，即便在未選擇的範圍中，如果要恢復被撤出的範圍，即改為original或是有修改currently amended；如果要恢復被刪除的範圍，則應以新增new範圍補入。（這些改變都不會影響日後提出分割案、延續案的權利主張）
（For any amendment being filed in response to a restriction or election of species requirement and any subsequent amendment, any claims which are non-elected must have the status identifier (withdrawn). Any non-elected claims which are being amended must have either the status identifier (withdrawn) or (withdrawn – currently amended) and the text of the non-elected claims must be presented with markings to indicate the
changes. Any non-elected claims that are being canceled must have the status identifier (canceled).）

Ron