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QUESTION PAPER REFERENCE: FC3 PERCENTAGE MARK AWARDED: 59%
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Question 1
a) DeadlineforvalidatinggrantedEuropeanpatentinEPC–
–sixmonthsafterthepublicationofEuropeansearchreport
b) i) Germany–
GermanyispartytotheLondonAgreement.ü0.5Germanyhas
Germanasofficiallanguagewhichiscommonwithoneofofficial
languageofEPOi.e.English,French,German.
ThestateswhicharepartytoLondonAgreementandhasatleastone
languagecommonwithoneoftheofficiallanguageofEPO,isexempt
fromtranslationrequirement.
Hence,inGermany,translationsarenotrequiredaspartofvalidation
ofagrantedEuropeanpatent.ü0.5
ii) Italy:
– ItalyisapartytotheLondonAgreement
– Italydoesnothavealanguagecommontooneoftheofficial
languagesofEPOi.e.English,French,German.
– ItalyrequiresatranslationinItalian.
– AsItalyisapartofLondonAgreementbutdoesnothaveEPO’sone
ofofficiallanguageincommon,atleastthetranslationofclaimsin
ItalianisrequiredaspartofvalidationofgrantedEuropeanpatent.
0
iii) Netherlands:
– NetherlandsisapartytoLondonAgreement.ü1
– NetherlandsrequirestranslationinDutchorEnglish.
– Netherlandsdoesnothaveofficiallanguagelanguageincommon
withEPO’sofficiallanguagesi.e.English,French,German.ü1
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1
– Hence,NetherlandsrequiresfulltranslationinDutchorEnglishand
translationofclaimsinDutchü1,aspartofvalidationofgranted
Europeanpatent
– IftheEuropeanpatentispublishedinEnglish,Netherlandsrequires
onlytranslationofclaimsinDutch,aspartofvalidationofgranted
Europeanpatent.
MARKS AWARDED 4/8
Question 2
a) 31July2018+10days=10August2018
10August2018+4months=10December2018ü1
Assuming,10DecemberisnotaSaturday,SundayorEPOholiday,the
responsetoexaminationreportbefiledby10December2018.
Ifisanofficialholiday,responsecanbefiledonthenextworkingday.
b) – Applicanthasanasofrightextensionoftwomonthsü0.5toreplyto
examinationreport.Hence,responsecanbevalidlyfiledwithintwo
months(asofrightextension)afterfourmonthsdeadline.Noreason
required.Nofee.
– Ifapplicantfailedtorespondinasofrighttwomonthsextension,
hecanrequestfurtherprocessing.ü0.5Noreasonandrequiredfor
furtherprocessing.Applicantcanrequestitwhilefilingthe
response.ü0.5Theapplicantshouldfiletheresponsewithintwo
monthsfurtherprocessingdeadline,paythefurtherprocessing
feeü0.5,andrequestfurtherprocessing.
– Further,ifapplicantmissthefurtherprocessingdeadline,application
willbedeemedwithdrawnbutapplicantcanfileforre-establishment
ofrights.
– Re-establishmentofrightscanbefiledwithintwomonthsof
awarenessofmissingdeadlineorwithin12monthsofmissingthe
dealine.
– Requiresreasoningofnon-compliancealthoughduecareistaken
ofcircumstances.
– Requiretopayfee.
4
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1
1
– Ifapplicantmissesthefourmonthsdeadline,theEuropeanPatent
officemayissuenoticeandapplicantcanresponsewithinthetimeline
setbytheofficeinthenotification.Usually2-4months.
c) – cannotbroadenclaims.
– AmendmentsshouldbebasedontheissuesraisedintheExamination
report.
– Cannotaddmatterü1
– theclaimswhichwerecancelledandhasnobasisinthedescription,
cannotbere-introduced.
MARKS AWARDED 4/7
Question 3
PatentprotectioninHongKong:
– ThepatentprotectioncanbeobtainedinHongKongbasedonthepatent
applicationpublishedinUnitedKingdom.
– Requestmustbefiledinwriting.
– Requestmustbefiledwithinsixmonthsofpublicationofpatent
applicationorpatentinUnitedKingdom.ü1Inthiscase,upto3January
2018.
– AcertifiedcopyofUKapplication,applicationnumber,nameofinventor,
copyofsearchresultsifany,countryofapplication,needtofileinHong
Kong.
– InHongKong,onlyformalityexaminationisdoneanditreliesonthe
substantiveexaminationofcountryfromwhichtheprotectionisapplied
forinHongKong.
– WithintwomonthsoffilingapplicationinHongKong,theissuenotification
issentandthepatentisissuedthereafter.
MARKS AWARDED 1/4
4
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Question 4
AfterfinalofficeactionissuedinrespectofaUSutilitypatentapplication,
followingcoursesofactionareavailabletotheapplicanttokeeppatent
protectionpendinginUSwithoutlossofrights.
1) Fileargumentsand/oramendmentsinresponsetofinalofficeactionü1
2) Filerequestforcontinuedexamination(RCE)ü1
3) Afterfinalconsiderationprogramrequest(AFCP20)ü1
4) Appeal
5) QPIDS(QuickPathInformationDisclosureStatement).
Filerequestforcontinuedexamination(RCE)
– ApplicantcanrequestRCEandpaythefee.
– RCEgivesanoptiontotheapplicanttocontinuewiththeexamination
afterrejectioninfinalofficeaction.ü1
– RCEcanalsobefiledifanissuefeeispaidandbeforetheissuanceof
patent,soastofileIDS(InformationDisclosureStatement).
– RCEcanbefiledanytimeaslongaspatentapplicationispending.
– RCEre-openstheproceedings
– WithRCE,applicantcanfiletheamendmentsand/orarguments.
– RCEisexpensive.
AfterFinalConsiderationProgram[AFCP(2.0)]
– AfterFinalConsiderationProgramhasbeenextendedto30September
2019
– Itgivesanopportunitytoapplicanttofileamendmentsand/orarguments
andalsogivesanopportunitytotheExaminertoexplainhisrejection
groundsandpriorart.Examinermaydofurthersearch.
– ForAFCP,itisrequiredtomakeamendmenttoatleastoneclaim.
– AFCPcanberequestedbyapplicantifrejectionisreceivedinthefinal
officeaction.ü1
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– ItispossibletoarrangeaninterviewwithExaminerunderAFCP.
– Oncethefinalofficeactionisreceived,therewasnootheroptionthan
filingtheRCEbutwithAFCP,nowapplicantcanrequesttheexaminer
toreconsidertheirapplicationandconsidernewargumentsand/or
amendments.
– Canbefiledanytimebyapplicantaslongasapplicationispending
Appeal
– ApplicantcanappealthedecisioninfinalofficeactiontotheBoardof
Appeals.
– PTABconsiderstheappeal
Fileargumentsand/oramendments:
– Aftertheissuanceoffinalofficeaction,applicantcansubmitarguments
and/oramendmentswithinthreemonthsoffinalofficeaction.
– ChancesareExaminermaynotconsidertheseargumentsand/or
amendments.
QPIDS(QuickPathInformationDisclosureStatement)
– Tokeeptheapplicationpending,applicantcanfileforQPIDS.
– QPIDSisfiledtosubmitanypriorartwhichisrelevanttopatentabiltiyand
applicantisawareofthatnotmorethan3monthsoffilingQPIDS.
– Cansubmitthesearchresultsfromcorrespondingapplication’ssearch
reports.
MARKS AWARDED 5/8
Question 5
a) Minimumrequirementstoobtainafilingdate:
1) TheapplicantisentitledtofilePCTapplicationi.e.applicantiseither
nationalorresidentofPCTcontractingstate.ü1
2) Applicationisinprescribedlanguagei.e.acceptedbyreceivingoffice,
acceptedbyInternationalSearchAuthorityandisalanguageof
publication.ü1
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2
3) Toinclude
– requestthatthePCTpatentapplicationissoughtü1
– designationofatleastonecontractingstate
– descriptionof/identificationofinventorü1
– descriptionü0.5and/oroneormoreclaims.ü0.5
Theapplicanti.e.companyAisregisteredinEnglandhencehasaplaceof
businessinPCTcontractingstate.Hence,companyAisentitledtofilePCT
application
For(2)requirement,notethatInternationalBureauacceptsapplicationin
anylanguage.
b) ThePCTapplicationcanbefiledatreceivingofficeoratInternational
Bureau.Inthiscase,companyisregisteredinEnglandhencecanfilePCT
applicationat
1) atUKIPO(UnitedKingdomIntellectualPropertyOffice)asregisteredin
Englandü1.andhasplaceofbusinessinEngland.
2) atEPO(EuropeanPatentOffice)ascompanyAisregisteredin
Englandü1whichmeanshasprincipleplaceofbusinessinEngland
whichisaEPCcontractingstate.
3) atIB(InternationalBureau)asanyPCTapplicationcanbefiledat
InternationalBureau.ü1
c) – Claimamendmentscanbefiled,laterof–
– withintwomonthsofreceiptofInternationalsearchreportü1
– orwithin16monthsofearliestfilingorprioritydateü1
MARKS AWARDED 10/1010
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Question 6
Methodsoftreatment
ofhumanbody
Business
Methods
China No ü0.5 Noassuch
Japan No ü0.5 Yesü0.5
India No ü0.5 No ü0.5
MARKS AWARDED 2.5/3
Question 7
a) OptionsforrespondingtoRule71(3)communication:
1) – Reviewthetextintendedforgrantandamendmentsmadeby
examiner.
– Approvethetextforgrantü1
– Payprintingfee,issueü0.5fee,excessclaimsfeeü0.5,excess
pageclaimsifanydueü0.5.Inthiscase,asapplicationincludes15
claimsand25pagesoftext,noexcessfeeisrequired.
– FilethetranslationofclaimsinothertwolanguagesofEPO.
Fore.g.iffiledpatentapplicationisinEnglish,submitclaims
translationsinFrenchandGerman.ü0.5
– Allabovecanbedonewithin4monthsdeadlinei.e.3September
2018+10days+4months=13January2019.ü1
– Oncethetextisapprovedforgrant,cannotmakeanyamendments.
2) – Filetheamendmentsandforclaimamendments,specifywhere
thebasiscanbefoundintheEuropeanpatentapplication.ü1
– Amendmentscanalsobefiledwithin4monthsdeadlinei.e.
13January2019asabove.
– Ifamendmentsarefiled,theapplicationagaingoesinto
theExaminationpoolandamendmentsareexamined.asto
requirementofclaimsclear&concise,donotgobeyondthescope
ofapplicationasfiled.,patentability.etc.ü0.5
– Intheamendments,applicantcanalsoaddnewclaimsof
unsearchedinvention.Claimswillbeexaminedtothepatentability
andunityofinventioncriteria.
2.5
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5.5
– Incaseofclaimsinexcessof15,theapplicantmayhavetopay
excessclaimsfees.
– Also,ifthepagesoftextexceeds35,havetopayexcesspagefee.
– Theaboveclaimamendmenttoincludeunsearchedinventiongives
thepossibilityofaddingprotectionofpatent.
3) Donotapprovethetextintendedtograntandfiledivisional.
applicationtotheunsearchedinvention.Donotpayissuefee.
– DivisionalapplicationcanonlybefiledforpendingEuropean
patentapplicationandcanbefileduptothedaybeforegrant.
Oncetheissuefeeispaid,patentwillbegrantedwithin3months.
Hence,bynotpayingtheissuefee,applicantcangainextratimeto
filedivisionalapplication.
– Firstgenerationdivisionalapplicationdoesnothaveextracostbut
second&furthergenerationdivisionalsincurincreasingfilingcost.
Flatafterfifthgeneration.
– Payanyduerenewalfee.
b) – DivisionalapplicationcanonlybefiledattheEPO.(theHague,
Munich)ü1
– Divisionalapplicationisfiledaslongasthepatentapplicationis
pendingi.e.uptothedaybeforegrantasmentionofgrantinpatent
bulletin.ü1
– Feesdue–Filingfeeü0.5fordivisionalwhichincreasesfromsecond
generationofdivisional,claimsfees,excesspageandexcessü0.5
claimsfee,searchfeeü0.5,examinationfeeü0.5,renewalfeeü0.5
whichcouldbebackdatedifdivisionalapplicationisfiledaftertwo
yearsoffilingapatentapplication.
– claimsfee,searchfee,examinationfee–withinonemonthof
filingü0.5(canbeextended)
– Filingfee–onfiling
– Renewalfee–
designationfee.
– Thesubjectmatterofdivisionalshouldnotgobeyondthesubject
matterofparentapplication.ü1
– Thedifferentscopeofclaimscanbefiledfordivisional
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3.5
– Mayberesultofunityofinventionobjection.Hence,canpursue
secondinventionindivisional.
– Allthecountriesdesignatedinparentapplicationswillbedesignatedin
divisional.
– thepatenttermofdivisionalissameasthepatenttermofparent
application.i.e.20yearsfromdateoffiling.
MARKS AWARDED 11.5/20
Question 9
a) US-1 Filingdate=8October2007
Grantdate=11December2011
InUS,therenewalfeeisdueon3·5years,7·5yearsü1and11·5ü1 years
aftergrant.
Henceinthiscase,renewalfeesmustbepaid–
i) Firstrenewalfeedueat3·5yearshence11December2011+3·5years
=11June2015
ii) Secondrenewalfeedueat7·5yearshence11December2011+
7·5years=11June2019
iii) Thirdrenewalfeedueat11·5yearshence11December2011+
11·5years=11June2023.
Furthertherenewalfeecanbepaidwithin6monthsgraceperiodü0.5
aftertheduedateofrenewalfee.Thesurchargehastopaytousegrace
periodhencerenewalcanbevalidlypaidwithsurchargeat4years,8years
at11yearsaftergrant.Hence,by11December2015,11December2019
and11June2023,inthiscase.
Ifthegraceperiodofsixmonthsismissed,canrequestforre-instatement
ofpatent.
ExpirydateofUS1is,
20yearsfromfilingdatehence,8October2007+20years=8October
2027ü1
11.5
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b) SG-2filingdate=3November2017.
LocalsearchandexaminationprocedureforSG2
i) Firstoption–separatesearchandexamination
Canrequestsearch13monthsoffilingofSG-2hence,3November
2017+13months=3December2017.Hence,inthiscasecanrequest
searchby3December2017.
Canrequestexamination36monthsoffilingofSG-2i.e.3November
2017+36months=3November2020.Thereforecanrequest
examinationby3November2020.
ii) Secondoption–combinedsearchandexamination
– canrequestsearchandexaminationcombinedby36monthsof
filingofSG-2Hence,by3November2017.ü1
– combinedsearchandexaminationischeaper.
c) Somecountriesprovidethepatentprotectionforinventionsevenifthey
areinadvertentlydisclosedbytheapplicant.Thisiscalledasagraceperiod
forfilingpatentapplicationswhichareresultsofpreviousdisclosures
byapplicantorabsuviedisclosuresbythirdpartywhoillegallyobtained
inventiondisclosurefromapplicantorinventors.
Australia–provides12monthsgraceperiodfordisclosuresbyapplicantü1
priortofiling.Inthiscase,attradeshow.
China–provides6monthsgraceperiodfordisclosuresbyapplicantprior
tofiling.Inthiscase,attradeshow.However,itisrequiredto
filethecertificateofdisclosurefromtradeshowanddeclaration
ofdisclosureatthetimeoffilingtheapplicationforanewbaby
bottle.Butneedtocheckdetailsoftradeshowasitmaynotbe
coveredbyrequirementofChinesegraceperiod.ü1
theUnitedStates–provides1yeargraceperiodforthedisclosuresby
applicant.Inthiscase,attradeshow.ü1
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d) EuropeanPatentconvention–provides6monthsgradeperiodfor
disclosuresbyapplicant.Inthiscaseattradeshow.Also,asthetradeshow
waslocaltradeshowinUK,asitwasintheEuropeanPatentConvention
contractingstate,thegraceperiodof6monthsapplies.
MARKS AWARDED 7.5/20
Question 10
a) Inter-partesreviewattheUSPTO
– Aftertheexpiryofnine-monthsperiodofpastgrantreviewü1orafter
theterminationofanypendingpost-grantreview,anypartycanapply
forinter-partesreview.
– Interpartesreviewmustbeonthebasisofnoveltyü0.5 and
obviousnessü0.5andbasedonprintedpublications.ü0.5
– Canapplyagainstanypatentgrantedonorafter16September2012.
– Groundsofinter-partesreviewarerestricted.
– Whilefilingtheapplicationmustincludethepatentnumberofwhich
claimswillbeopposed,extentofreviewi.e.whichclaimstobe
opposed,groundsofopposition,evidence,factsandargumentsbased
onevidence.Mustspecifyhowtheclaimsareanticipatedbypriorart,
whichpartisanticipatedbywhichpriorartandwherebasiscanbe
foundinpriorart.
– USPTOwillconsiderinter-partesreviewonlyiftheappealantcan
showthat“heisreasonablytoprevailwithatleastoneclaimbeing
challenged.ӟ1
Ex-partere-examination
– Anypartycanfileforex-partere-examinationü1basedontheprior
artwhichisrelevanttopatentabilityofthegrantedpatent.
– Also,onthegroundofdoublepatenting,iftheinventorsorapplicant
issameandpatentsaregrantedforsameinvention.Inthiscase,
applicantmayfileterminaldisclaimer.
7.5
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3
– PTABreviewsthevalidityofpatentbasedon“preponderanceof
evidence”insteadof“clearandconvincingevidence”asforother
cases.
b) YestheclientcanopposegrantofJapanesepatentasanypartycan
opposegrantedJapanesepatent.ü1
ThedeadlinetofileoppositiontograntedJapanesepatentis6monthsü1
afterthepublicationofgrantedpatent.i.e.inthiscase3July2018+
6months=3January2019.Hence,clientcanfileoppositiontoJPgranted
patentby3January2019.
c) – Pastgrantoppositioncanbefiledtoattackvalidityofgranted
Europeanpatent.
– Pastgrantoppositioncanbefiledwithin9monthsü0.5ofmentionof
publicationofgrant.Inthiscaseby6September2018.ü0.5
– Pastgrantoppositioncanbebasedonlackofpatentability,
insufficiency,addedsubjectmatter.
– CanalsofileappealtoattackvalidityofgratedEuropeanpatent
– Centrallimitationmaybyfiled.
– Ifcentrallimitationisnotfiled,mayhavetodealwithinvaliditycase
innationalpatentcourtsü1inthiscaseUKIPO,FrancePatentOffice,
GermanyPatentOffice.ü1
d) RevocationinGermany
– Aftertheninemonthsdeadlineoffilingopposition,anypartycanfile
forrevocationinGermany.ü0.5
– Groundsforrevocation
– Patentabilityü0.5
– Insufficiencyü0.5
– Addedsubjectmatterü0.5
– Usurpation/infringementofparty–anyadverselyaffectedparty
canfilerevocationbasedonthisground
– patentgoesbeyondthescopeofprotection.
– TherevocationcanbehandledbyFederalpatentcourtü0.5
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– Basedonthementionedgroundsandevidence&factsandarguments,
thePatentcourtdecidesontherevocationcase.
– Patentapplicantisgivenanopportunitytofilehiscomments/
argumentsoramendments.
– Anypartyadverselyaffectedmayappealtohighcourt.ü1
MARKS AWARDED 13/2013