MPEP1300中核准後陳述意見的筆記

筆記

MPEP 1330檔案：https://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/mpep-1300.pdf

MPEP 1330規範專利獲准與領證的程序，包括核准後對整個專利文件的檢閱（哪些專利範圍被核准、被撤回、未選擇、刪除與新增等）、改寫說明書與專利範圍、如何發出核准通知（包括理由）、審查委員自為修正的規定、限定選擇後專利範圍的處理、圖式檢閱、前案文獻整理、費用、PTA，以及統整相關專利資訊等，甚至包括公告列印等事項。

但我發現到其中有關「禁反言（estoppel）」的相關內容，也值得筆記一下。

在其中MPEP1302.14 Reasons for Allowance的內容中：

(1)審查委員所陳述專利核准的理由是專利審查歷史檔案中重要的資訊，但不會建立歷史禁反言。
V. APPLICANT’S COMMENTS ON THE REASONSFOR ALLOWANCE
The examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance is an important source of prosecution file history. See Zenith Labs., Inc. v. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.,19 F.3d 1418, 30 USPQ2d 1285 (Fed. Cir. 1996).The examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance is the personal opinion of the examiner as to why the claims are allowable. The examiner’s statement should not create an estoppel.

(2)只有申請人自己陳述的內容還會建立歷史禁反言。
Only applicant’s statements should create an estoppel.

(3)若申請人並未對審查委員的專利核准理由發表言論，不應被視為默認為審查委員的聲明。
The failure of applicant to comment on the examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance should not be treated as acquiescence to the examiner’s statement. See Salazar v. Procter & Gamble Co., 414 F.3d 1342,1347, 75 USPQ2d 1369, 1373 (Fed. Cir. 2005).

(4)任何推論都是由法院、USPTO、PTAB逐件審理得出，申請人再逐件提出反駁。
Any inferences or presumption are to be determined on a case-by-case basis by a court reviewing the patent, the USPTO examining the patent in a reissue application or a reexamination proceeding, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board reviewing the patent in an interference or derivation proceeding, etc. Applicant may set forth his or her position if he or she disagrees with the examiner’s reasons for allowance.

(5)若對審查委員的核准理由有話說，申請人應"最好"在繳付領證費前陳述意見。
Comments filed by the applicant on the examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance, should preferably be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee, to avoid processing delays. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” Comments will be entered in the application file by the Office of Data Management with an appropriate document code in the file wrapper.

(6)因為申請案文件在審查委員發出核准通知後不會回到審查委員，因此此時沒有回應（沒有義務要看）申請人意見並不代表默認此申請人意見。
The application file generally will not be returned to the examiner after the entry of such comments made by applicant on the examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance. Therefore, the absence of an examiner’s response to applicant's comments does not mean that the examiner agrees with or acquiesces in the reasoning of such comments. See 37 CFR 1.104(e). While the examiner may review and comment upon such a submission, the examiner has no obligation to do so.

Ron