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<p class="MsoNormal">Doreen, thank you! I like this approach, and great point about withdrawn finality and appeal.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<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="_x0000_i1027" src="cid:image001.png@01DAE9AE.8C5912C0"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",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">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,
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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>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Doreen Trujillo <DTrujillo@vlplawgroup.com>
<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 8, 2024 3:22 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Katherine Koenig <katherine@koenigipworks.com><br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: [Patentpractice] Success of challenging finality of Office Action<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is difficult to get examiners to acknowledge that the citation of new art in a final rejection is improper when no amendments have been made, so I would expect it is even more difficult when amendments have been made.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you have further amendments or evidence you would like submitted in response to the new art, I would suggest that you promptly file a response to attempt to do so. You can also raise the appropriateness of finality in the response.
You should be able to get any amendments or evidence specifically addressing the new art admitted even though you are under final rejection, since you did not have an opportunity to address the art previously. If the Examiner refuses, this can be brought up
in the appeal brief. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Please note that if the examiner reviews to withdraw finality, the refusal is not appealable. It can only be challenged by petition. You can do so, but you may end up having to file an appeal regardless because of timing, as the petition
does not toll the appeal. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even if you have no amendments or evidence you would like submitted, I would suggest filing a response before the appeal brief. The response will prompt an Advisory Action that will hopefully give you some sense about what the examiner’s
response to your arguments would be. You could adjust your arguments in an appeal brief accordingly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Doreen <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><img border="0" width="71" height="26" style="width:.7395in;height:.2708in" id="Picture_x0020_3" src="cid:image002.png@01DAE9AE.8C5912C0"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#77206D;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Doreen Y. Trujillo</span></b><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Partner | VLP Law Group LLP<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Southeastern Pennsylvania| Blue Bell, PA<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Office: +1 (267) 358-6839</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual">Email:
<a href="mailto:dtrujillo@VLPLawGroup.com">dtrujillo@VLPLawGroup.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#501549;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"> </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size:12.0pt;color:#501549;mso-ligatures:standardcontextual"><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"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">From:</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com">patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>>
<b>On Behalf Of </b>Katherine Koenig via Patentpractice<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, August 8, 2024 2:14 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Katherine Koenig <<a href="mailto:katherine@koenigipworks.com">katherine@koenigipworks.com</a>><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Patentpractice] Success of challenging finality of Office Action<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hi everyone, <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We’ve received a final Office Action for a relatively simple mechanical product, in which the Examiner asserts the finality is proper because our amendments necessitated it. We already gone two rounds with this Examiner, filed an RCE,
and this is the second Office Action after RCE. In this Final Office Action, these are primarily new references that we haven’t yet considered. For most claims, our previous arguments are found persuasive, but new art is applied (rather than just sticking
to the original combination of references). As I noted, this is a relatively low-tech invention and I believe our amendments (at least our most recent round of amendments) should not be surprising.
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Has anyone had success in overturning the finality of an Office Action based on this argument from MPEP 706.07(a)?
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A second or any subsequent action on the merits in any application or patent involved in reexamination proceedings should not be made final if it includes a rejection on
<b><i>prior art not of record</i></b> of any claim amended to include <b><i>limitations which should reasonably have been expected to be claimed</i></b>. See <b><a href="https://mpep.uspto.gov/RDMS/MPEP/current#/current/d0e115569.html">MPEP 904</a></b> <i>et
seq. </i>However, note that an examiner cannot be expected to foresee whether or how an applicant will amend a claim to overcome a rejection except in very limited circumstances (e.g., where the examiner suggests how applicant can overcome a rejection under <b><a href="https://mpep.uspto.gov/RDMS/MPEP/current#/current/d0e302824912.html##al_d1d85b_2ae65_215">35
U.S.C. 112(b)</a></b> or <b><a href="https://mpep.uspto.gov/RDMS/MPEP/current#/current/d0e302824.html">pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112</a></b>, second paragraph).<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@01DAE9AE.8C5912C0"></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",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">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>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><br>
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This message contains information which may be confidential and legally privileged. Unless you are the addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone this message or any information contained in the message. If you have received this message in error,
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