MPEP 8th edition, Rev. 5 Now Available

The USPTO's Manual of Patent Examination Procedure (8th edition, revision 5) is now availalbe in PDF with a searchable index. The revision incorporates the changes necessitated by the following final rules:

1. "Changes To Implement the Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement Act of 2004," which became effective on September 14, 2005;
2. "Provisions for Claiming the Benefit of a Provisional Application With a Non-English Specification and Other Miscellaneous Matters," which became effective on November 25, 2005;
3. "Changes To Implement the Patent Search Fee Refund Provisions of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005," which became effective on March 10, 2006; and
4. "Clarification of Filing Date Requirements for Ex Parte and Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings," which became effective on March 27, 2006.