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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>These type of rejections can be overcome with so-called “<i>In re Katz</i>” declarations. See MPEP 2155.01. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Patentpractice <patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Andrew Berks via Patentpractice<br><b>Sent:</b> Saturday, February 17, 2024 9:55 AM<br><b>To:</b> Patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com<br><b>Cc:</b> Andrew Berks <andrew@berksiplaw.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Patentpractice] Expansive MPEP Interpretation of 35 USC 102(b)(1) - not consistent with the statute; MPEP 2153.01(a)<o:p></o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I got an obviousness rejection based in part on a paper published 6 months before the patent application filing date. The paper had 8 authors, 2 of whom were inventors on the patent. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I asserted that the paper was not prior art based on 35 USC 102(b)(1) - a paper published less than one year before the filing date made by the inventor or joint inventor is an exception to 102(a)(1). <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The examiner refused to discount the paper b/c of the other authors. This is part of MPEP 2153.01(a), explaining that a disclosure is not prior art if it (1) was made one year or less before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; (2) names the inventor or a joint inventor as an author or an inventor; and (3) does not name additional persons as authors on a printed publication or joint inventors on a patent. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>My view is that the MPEP takes an expansive reading of the statute. The statute is silent as to the case, where as here, there are additional authors on a paper that names the inventors as authors and was published less than one year before the priority date. The MPEP reads in a requirement that is not part of the statute. Moreover, the MPEP cites no precedent for this added requirement.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I'm going to make this argument on appeal to the PTAB, which is the next step in this application. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><br clear=all><o:p></o:p></p><div><div><div><table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 style='border-collapse:collapse'><tr><td valign=top style='padding:5.0pt 5.0pt 5.0pt 5.0pt'><p style='mso-margin-top-alt:10.0pt;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:0in;margin-left:0in'><span style='font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;padding:0in'><img width=96 height=95 style='width:1.0in;height:.9895in' id="_x0000_i1025" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/MkzCObDW8vt80IL4vhFnE2q2Yk6E1XRrUnIh-iH5fpA3c50UEoqwye4MFFM_buPF7SARR8Afz5et5bNMpGCktg0yMNLoGYajdzI_R4YSwz1qxO__ZyuPGYb0xnJOd4dPxVaN-4aHWkCvVLyoU0Z49UY"></span><o:p></o:p></p></td><td valign=top style='padding:5.0pt 5.0pt 5.0pt 5.0pt;overflow:hidden'><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Andrew Berks, Ph.D., J.D.</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0079AC'> </span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>| Partner</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Patent Attorney and IP Licensing</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>FRESH</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444'> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#242424'>IP PLC</span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444'>28 Liberty St 6th Fl</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>New York NY 10005 (US)</span><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>Main office: 11710 Plaza America Drive, Suite 2000, Reston, VA 20190 USA<br><b>e:</b> </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0563C1'><a href="mailto:andrew@freship.com" target="_blank">andrew@freship.com</a></span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#444444'> | </span><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black'>w: </span></b><a href="http://www.freship.com/" target="_blank"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#1155CC'>www.freship.com</span></a> <a href="https://berksiplaw.com/" target="_blank">berksiplaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p style='margin:0in'><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#242424'>Direct</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#242424'>: +1-845-558-7245</span><o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></table><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>