<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">For what it’s worth, I’ve learned that when examiners are doing things in accordance with policy set from up high, a lot times the only way to get the issue resolved is to appeal, unfortunately.<div><br></div><div>Generally what I try to do is establish a good rapport with the examiner, and obliquely ask them in effect, “are there any circumstances in which you would ever withdraw the rejection?” A lot of examiners will point blank tell you that even if they agree with you, they won't withdraw the rejection because their supervisor/quality control/little purple person who lives on the moon/etc. won’t let them.</div><div><br></div><div>I never get mad at the examiners, and tell them I empathize with their position (which is true). There’s no sense beating your head against the wall because of bad policy that the examiners can’t control. </div><div><br></div><div>When I know that we’re in a position in which there’s nothing we can say or do during prosecution to get the issue resolved, I know to start laying out the groundwork for an appeal in the responses (and will even given the examiner a heads-up in a phone call, “hey, you’re going to see a lot of caselaw cited in the response . . . here’s why I’m doing that”), and get to appeal quickly.</div><div><br></div><div>Ultimately I think this is more cost effective. If we’re going to have to appeal, I want to do that sooner rather than later (after filing an RCE or whatever).</div><div><br></div><div> - Mike.</div><div><div><br></div><div>--- </div><div>Law Offices of Michael Dryja</div><div>24 Roy St #447</div><div>Seattle, WA 98109</div><div>voice 206.453.1121</div><div>fax 206.774.2781</div><div>mike@dryjapat.com </div><div><a href="http://www.dryjapat.com">www.dryjapat.com</a></div><div><br></div><div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div>On Dec 20, 2023, at 9:17 AM, Katherine Koenig via Patentpractice <patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Happy holidays, everyone! <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">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></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">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? <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">Katherine<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">Dr. Katherine Koenig<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">Registered Patent Attorney<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">Koenig IP Works, PLLC<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">2208 Mariner Dr.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;">(954) 903-1699<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:katherine@koenigipworks.com"><span style="color: blue;">katherine@koenigipworks.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Corbel, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span id="cid:image001.png@01DA333E.78DB7C50"><image001.png></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">Targeted Intellectual Property Strategy</span></i><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Candara, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 9pt; font-family: Candara, sans-serif;">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. 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