The Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) Eighth Edition, Revision 4 has been released. The Manual is published to provide U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent examiners, applicants, attorneys, agents, and representatives of applicants with a reference work on the practices and procedures relative to the prosecution of patent applications before the USPTO.

This revision incorporates the changes necessitated by the final rule “Changes To Implement the Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement Act of 2004,” which became effective on September 14, 2005. Chapter 2300 has been rewritten to incorporate the new Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences rules that became effective on September 13, 2004. The rules directed to interferences are in Part 41, Subparts D and E of title 37, Code of Federal Regulations.