Legal Definitions - MPEP

MPEP

MPEP stands for MANUAL OF PATENT EXAMINING PROCEDURE. It is a guidebook used by patent examiners to determine whether an invention is eligible for a patent.

For example, if someone invents a new type of phone case, they may apply for a patent. A patent examiner would then use the MPEP to determine if the phone case is novel, non-obvious, and useful. If the phone case meets these requirements, it may be granted a patent.

Another example would be if someone invents a new type of software. The patent examiner would use the MPEP to determine if the software is eligible for a patent. If the software is deemed to be an abstract idea or a mathematical formula, it may not be eligible for a patent.

The MPEP is an important tool used by patent examiners to ensure that only eligible inventions are granted patents. It provides guidelines and procedures for patent examination, including determining whether an invention is novel, non-obvious, and useful. The examples illustrate how the MPEP is used to evaluate different types of inventions and determine their eligibility for a patent.