Resources and Guidance
The following policies, procedures, guides, tools and manuals are associated with the patent process.
NOTE: The information below was correct at the time of original publication. Some information may no longer be applicable. For example, amendments may have been made to the rules of practice since the original date of a publication, there may have been a change in any fees indicated, and certain references to publications may no longer be valid. Wherever there is a reference to a statute or rule, please check carefully whether the statute or rule in force at the date of publication of the advice has since been amended.
Patents Guidance
- America Invents Act (AIA) Instructional Videos
- Resources for Paralegals and Administrators
- Notices: Recent Patent-Related pre-OG, OG & Federal Register
- Access to Published Patent Applications
- Business Methods Patents
- Disclosure Document Program
- General Information Concerning Patents [HTML] [PDF]
- Inventor Resources
- Types of Patents
- Office of Data Management
- Patent Business Goals (PBG) Final Rule Home Page
- American Inventors Protection Act of 1999 (AIPA) Home Page
- Prior Art Electronic Resources Available to Patent Examiners
Tools & Manuals
- Classification:
- Forms
- Searchable Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP)
- Manual of Patent Examining Procedure
- Patent Laws, Consolidated [PDF]
- Patent Rules, Consolidated [PDF]
- Search Templates
- Web Conferencing and Collaboration
- Patent Term Calculator
Office of Patent Training (OPT) - Training Materials
These computer-based training (CBT) modules are used in the training of entry-level patent examiners and are made available here for use by the general public. Note that course content applies to patent applications filed under the America Invents Act of 2011.
- 35 U.S.C. §112(b) and (d)
- Affidavit Practice Under 37 CFR §1.132
- Affidavit Practice Under 37 CFR §1.132 – Unexpected Results
- After Final Practice and Request for Continued Examination (RCE)
- Double Patenting
- Double Patenting Review and Practical Tips
Some contents linked to on this page require a plug-in for PDF and PPT files
