被放棄的申請案（abandoned application）

專利法規範了一件專利的生與死，從申請、公開、審查、維持，到最後被拋棄，MPEP 901.02規範了被放棄的申請案（abandoned for failure to respond to office action）的法定效力，這裡指的不是獲准專利後的拋棄。

MPEP 901.02第一段提到，如果被放棄的申請案之前曾經早期公開過，就成為有效的pre-AIA 102(a)(b)以及post-AIA 102(a)(1)先前技術 - "printed" publication，即便是電子公開。

這樣被放棄的申請案仍符合pre-AIA 102(e)與post-AIA 102(a)(2)的先前技術，理由是這個被放棄的申請案之前仍「有效地」取得申請日（新穎性比申請日，美國特有）。

如果是未公開的已放棄申請案，如果被其他案（後申請的專利、美國法定發明註冊、後公開案、國際申請案（公開））所認為前案（如享其優先權），這個"未公開"但已放棄的申請案可為有效的先前技術（編按，如果需要其申請日作為前案引用時）。

以上規定可知，被放棄的申請案仍有其法定效力，公開的一定可成為其他後案的先前技術，但未公開的，要看有沒有其他後案主張其優先權日。


MPEP 1893.02指的國際申請案未"及時（如超過最早申請日30個月）"進入美國，也就放棄了國際申請案。

MPEP 711則為申請案在審理過程中的放棄（Abandonment of Patent Application），根據37 CFR 1.135 and 1.138規定規定，放棄可能為「申請人」正式提出放棄；代理人提出放棄；或是提出其他延續案而母案被放棄（或說拋棄）；另外是，並未回應OA（或未及時）的放棄。

MPEP 203.05規範幾種放棄專利/申請案，方法之一：提出正式放棄聲明；二：未適當地回應審查意見；三：未繳領證費用；四：沒有後續主張優先權的臨時申請案。

其他：

如果專利被放棄或拋棄是基於USPTO的錯誤，回復要求（Request for Reinstatement）沒有費用。

非故意者有理由要求回復權利。

放棄/拋棄還可拿回，可參考MPEP 711.03(c)。

（重要）救援方式：37 CFR 1.137: REVIVAL OF ABANDONED APPLICATION, OR TERMINATED OR LIMITED REEXAMINATION PROSECUTION

編按，可能可以將獲准專利後的abandon講為拋棄（獲得權利又拋棄的），將獲准以前的abandon講為放棄（拿不到只好放棄的）。


[相關法規]
MPEP 901.02 Abandoned Applications

If an abandoned application was previously published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b), that patent application publication is available as prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and 102(b) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as of its patent application publication date because the patent application publication is considered to be a "printed" publication within the meaning of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) and 102(b) and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1), even though the patent application publication is disseminated by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Office) using only electronic media. See MPEP § 2128. Additionally, as described in MPEP § 901.03, a patent application publication published under 35 U.S.C. 122(b) of an application that has become abandoned may be available as prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(e) as of the earliest effective U.S. filing date of the published application and may be available under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as of the date it was effectively filed. As provided in 37 CFR 1.11(a), unless a redacted copy of the application was used for the patent application publication, the specification, drawings, and all papers relating to the file of an abandoned published application are open to inspection by the public, and copies may be obtained from the Office. The information that is available to the public under 37 CFR 1.11(a) may be used as prior art under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or 102(b) or 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as of the date the information became publicly available.

Where an unpublished abandoned application is identified or whose benefit is claimed in a U.S. patent, a statutory invention registration, a U.S. patent application publication, or an international patent application publication of an international application that was published in accordance with PCT Article 21(2), the file contents of the unpublished abandoned application may be made available to the public. See 37 CFR 1.14(a)(1)(iv). Subject matter from abandoned applications which is available to the public under 37 CFR 1.14 may be used as prior art against a pending U.S. application under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a) or 102(b) or 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as of the date the subject matter became publicly available.

In re Heritage,182 F.2d 639, 86 USPQ 160 (CCPA 1950), holds that where a patent refers to and relies on the disclosure of a previously copending but subsequently abandoned application, such disclosure is available as a reference. See also In re Lund,376 F.2d 982, 153 USPQ 625 (CCPA 1967).

It has also been held that where the reference patent refers to a previously copending but subsequently abandoned application which discloses subject matter in common with the patent, the effective date of the reference as to the common subject matter is the filing date of the abandoned application. See In re Switzer, 166 F.2d 827, 77 USPQ 156 (CCPA 1948); Ex parte Peterson, 63 USPQ 99 (Bd. App. 1944); and Ex parte Clifford, 49 USPQ 152 (Bd. App. 1940). See MPEP § 2127, subsection I.

Published abstracts, abbreviatures, defensive publications (MPEP § 901.06(d)), and statutory invention registrations (MPEP Chapter 1100) are references.


MPEP 1893.02    Abandonment（國際放棄）


MPEP 711 Abandonment of Patent Application
Abandonment may be either of the invention or of an application. This discussion is concerned with abandonment of the application for patent.

An abandoned application, in accordance with 37 CFR 1.135 and 1.138, is one which is removed from the Office docket of pending applications through:

(A) formal abandonment
(1) by the applicant,
(2) by the attorney or agent of record, or
(3) by a registered attorney or agent acting in a representative capacity under 37 CFR 1.34 when filing a continuing application; or
(B) failure of applicant to take appropriate action within a specified time at some stage in the prosecution of the application.

MPEP 203.05 Abandoned
An abandoned application is, inter alia, one which is removed from the Office docket of pending applications:

(A) through formal abandonment by the applicant or by the attorney or agent of record;
(B) through failure of applicant to take appropriate action at some stage in the prosecution of a nonprovisional application;
(C) for failure to pay the issue fee (MPEP § 711 to § 711.05); or

(D) in the case of a provisional application, no later than 12 months after the filing date of the provisional application (see MPEP § 711.03(c) and 35 U.S.C. 111(b)(5) ).

資料來源：
https://www.uspto.gov/trademarks-application-process/abandoned-applications

Ron