<div dir="ltr"><div>I haven't looked at these regs. Is there an affirmative duty reg: "The application will be complete if the applicant files x, y, and z." Or something like that.</div><div><br></div>From time to time when I get a confusing request, I file a paragraph that says something like<div style="margin-left:40px"><br></div><div style="margin-left:40px">The examiner requested such-and-such, but cited no reg that requires such-and-such. 37 CFR 1.495 requires x, y, and z, but not [whatever he's asking for]. Applicant has filed x, y, and z.<br></div><div style="margin-left:40px"><br></div><div style="margin-left:40px">When all parties work within the written rules, everyone knows what to expect of each other. In contrast, when one side improvises, it's impossible for the other to know precisel<font size="2"><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif">y what teh problem is that needs to be rectified. Without a common understanding of the problem, it's impossible for the other to know whether what is available to offer is enough.
The International Bureau (IB) had already provided a copy of the application (and, presumably, an XML text capture) to the USPTO -- if the most-formal copy known in patent law is not sufficient, what is the examiner's remaining concern? Applicant is happy to scratch the examiner's itch, but the examiner has to identify exactly what and where it is. What can an applicant provide that would scratch it any better than the IB has already done?<br></span></font></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Jul 31, 2024 at 6:57\u202fPM Patent Lawyer via Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div class="msg-400770808700873724">
<div style="overflow-wrap: break-word;" lang="EN-US">
<div class="m_-7110066135329368844WordSection1">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">I filed a national phase application in the USPTO under 35 USC 371.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The International Bureau (IB) had already provided a copy of the application to the USPTO, but with the original filing I provided a copy of the published application anyway.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The patent examiner now requires a copy of the specification. He has examined the application using the PCT publication. I informed him that under the rules, I was not required to file a
copy of the specification if the IB had already communicated it to the USPTO, which they had. However, I had already provided a copy. He mentioned that he always receives them, to which I responded that I don\u2019t always file them if it's not required.
<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">What he seems to want is a copy of the specification that is not the PCT publication.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">When I asked the examiner why he needed it, the reason he came up with is that it makes it easier for the publication team to make corrections.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He did not request a DOCX file. I do have the original Word file, but I don't see any reason to file it, especially since I amended the specification upon entry to include a reference in
the first paragraph to the PCT application.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">He agreed that I could defer this filing. I don\u2019t want to do the work of filing a substitute specification.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The examiner\u2019s office action on the merits is thorough and detailed, and he has a good understanding of the art, the invention, and, of course BRI. My only issue is this requirement to
file the specification in some other form than the office already has.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Under 37 CFR 1.495, the requirements for entering the national phase include:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(1) A copy of the international application, unless it has been previously communicated by the International Bureau or unless it was originally filed in the United States Patent and Trademark
Office; and<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">(2) The basic national fee (see § 1.492(a)).<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Am I correct in my understanding and citing the correct rule?<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Any suggestions for response.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
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