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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Happy Friday, Everybody –<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">I am looking into a hypothetical situation regarding issues surrounding a patent claim that includes duplicative limitations and whether the claim would be considered indefinite
or not.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">For example, if an issued claim recited:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">1. A widget, comprising:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">a body, and at least one of:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> (a) a cap coupled to the body;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> (b) a flange extending from the middle of the body; or<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:1.0in"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> (c) a flange extending from the middle of the body.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">In the above example, the alternatively recited limitations are not mutually exclusive but the “at least one of” language allows for multiple clauses to exist, so logically at
least, the claim can include both (b) and (c).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">But since (b) and (c) are identical, is that a problem with respect to the validity of the claim or would it be considered definite since if you have or don’t have (b) you have
or don’t have (c)?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Also, I think this could be fixed by a certificate of correction to remove the duplicate limitation, but wondering if anyone has either had some experience with this or has a
different point of view regarding potential issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Lastly, even if fixable by certificate of correction, since I believe that you can correct the claim at any time, is this something that is better left alone and only corrected
if you think you are going to assert or perhaps license or sell the patent? Or would you be better served to make the correction immediately upon discovery of the error so that the claim is cleaner as soon as possible?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Alan<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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