Legal Definitions - examining group

An examining group is a committee of patent examiners who specialize in a specific area of technology. They review patent applications related to their area of expertise and determine whether the invention is novel and non-obvious enough to be granted a patent.

For example, there may be an examining group that specializes in computer software patents. This group would consist of patent examiners who have a deep understanding of computer programming and software development. When a patent application related to computer software is submitted, it would be assigned to this examining group for review.

Another example of an examining group could be one that specializes in medical device patents. This group would consist of patent examiners who have a background in biomedical engineering or a related field. They would review patent applications related to medical devices, such as pacemakers or prosthetic limbs.

These examples illustrate how an examining group is a specialized committee of patent examiners who review patent applications related to a specific area of technology. By having experts in a particular field review patent applications, the patent office can ensure that only truly novel and non-obvious inventions are granted patents.