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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black">Ex Parte Gross, Appeal 2011-004811, Application 11/565,411 (PTAB 2014).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-autospace:none"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black;background:white">It’s not precedential but it held “and/or” is not indefinite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:8.25pt;mso-line-height-rule:exactly"><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#333A77">Bryan K. Wheelock
</span></b><b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#FF6917">|
</span></b><span style="font-size:8.5pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">Principal
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<b>O: </b>314-726-7505 <o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color:windowtext">From:</span></b><span style="color:windowtext"> Patentpractice <patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Patent Lawyer via Patentpractice<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Friday, December 1, 2023 10:04 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Patent Lawyer <patentlawyer995@gmail.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Patentpractice] The use of "and/or" in claims<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:#FFF2CC"><span style="color:#BF8F00">EXTERNAL EMAIL - USE CAUTION</span><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">We've seen this before, but I cannot find the discussion.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">In an office action, an examiner writes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">All claim limitations that include "and/or" are interpreted as "or". If applicant disagrees with this interpretation, they are invited to amend the "and/or" to "and".<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I believe the examiner is wrong! And I will point that out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">BUT I recall that there was some case that discussed this.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">I would appreciate a pointer to a case or other reference discussing this issue.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt">Thanks in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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