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<p class="MsoNormal">Happy holidays, everyone! <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve been seeing an increase in obviousness-type double patenting rejections. This was confirmed during an interview with an Examiner last week, who said the internal guidance/training they’ve been receiving is to issue them wherever possible,
even if it’s a stretch. It seems the policy reason is to reduce the occurrence/size of patent families. It’s frustrating that this is the motivation and outcome we’re seeing. I understand the policy of not extending patent term for the same (or a truly
obvious) invention, but in one case an OTDP rejection was issued in light of applicant’s unrelated, older patent that had absolutely nothing to do with the current application. The rejection was cobbled together with the applicant’s application + 2 prior
art references, which also had nothing to do with the current invention, but each disclosed the use of one of the ingredients in the invention. The Examiner didn’t agree with non-analogous art or motivation to combine arguments, and we’re stuck trying to
argue over our own reference or accept a patent term that would expire in 2029.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I’ve seen some of David Boundy’s very helpful discussions about OTDP rejections (thank you, David!), but am still having trouble coming up with a solution when the Examiners are instructed to make the refusal. Has anyone seen a similar
trend, and have you had any luck in overcoming? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">Katherine<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">Dr. Katherine Koenig<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">Registered Patent Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">Koenig IP Works, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">2208 Mariner Dr.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black">(954) 903-1699<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black"><a href="mailto:katherine@koenigipworks.com"><span style="color:blue">katherine@koenigipworks.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Corbel",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><img border="0" width="154" height="41" style="width:1.6041in;height:.427in" id="Picture_x0020_2" src="cid:image001.png@01DA333E.78DB7C50"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black">Targeted Intellectual Property Strategy</span></i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif;color:black">The information contained in this communication, including any attachments, is privileged and confidential information intended only for the use of the individual
or entity named above. If </span></i><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif">you are not the intended recipient, or the employee or agent responsible to deliver it to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review,
dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, do not read it. Please immediately reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error and then destroy
all paper and electronic copies. Thank you.</span></i><span style="font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Candara",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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