Go to MPEP - Table of Contents
In accordance with MPEP § 201.14(c), the examiner will fill in the spaces concerning foreign applications on the face of the older file wrappers.
The information to be written on the face of the file wrapper consists of the country, application date (filing date), and if available, the application and patent numbers. In some instances, the particular nature of the foreign application such as "utility model" (Germany (Gebrauchsmuster) and Japan) must be written in parentheses before the application number. For example: Application Number (utility model) B62854.
At the present time the computer printed file wrapper labels (for 08/ or earlier series applications) or PALM bib-data sheet (for 09/ series applications) include the prior foreign application information. The examiner should check this information for accuracy. Should there be error, the examiner should make the appropriate corrections directly on the file wrapper or on the PALM bib-data sheet in black ink. The examiner should initial the file wrapper or the PALM bib-data sheet in the "VERIFIED" space provided when the information is correct or has been amended to be correct. However, the examiner must still indicate on the Office action and on the file wrapper or on the PALM bib-data sheet whether the conditions of 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) or (f) have been met.
If the filing dates of several foreign applications are claimed (see MPEP § 201.15, last paragraph) and satisfactory papers have been received for each, information respecting each of the foreign applications is to be entered on the face of the file wrapper or on the PALM bib-data sheet.
The front page of the patent when it is issued, and the listing in the Official Gazette, will refer to the claim of priority, giving the country, the filing date, and the number of the foreign application in those applications in which the face of the file or the PALM bib-data sheet has been endorsed.
Go to MPEP - Table of Contents