MPEP § 2306 — MPEP § 2306
Current through: 2022-07-01

2306-Secrecy Order Cases 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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 Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 

 Chapter 2300 

 Section 2306 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 2306 Secrecy Order Cases [R-08.2017]

 
 37 CFR 5.3 Prosecution of application under secrecy
 orders; withholding patent. 

 *****

 
 (b) An interference will not be declared involving a national
 application under secrecy order. An applicant whose application is under secrecy
 order may suggest an interference ( § 41.202(a) of this title),
 but the Office will not act on the request while the application remains under a
 secrecy order.
 

 
 *****

 

 Once an interference is declared, an opposing party is entitled to access
 to the application and benefit applications pursuant to 37 CFR 41.109 . See
 MPEP §
 2307.02 . Consequently, an interference should not be suggested
 for an application under a secrecy order. See MPEP §§ 120 and 130 . When a secrecy order
 expires or is rescinded, if the examination is otherwise completed in accordance with
 37 CFR
 41.102 , then the need for an interference may be reconsidered.
 

 If an application not under a secrecy order has allowable claims that
 interfere with allowable claims of an application that is under a secrecy order, then the
 application that is not under the secrecy order should be passed to issue as a patent. An
 interference may be suggested with the application and the patent (unless the patent has
 expired) once the secrecy order has been lifted.
 

 
 Example 

 Application L discloses and claims a transistor that is useful in a
 commercial context. Application M discloses the same transistor in the context of a
 missile control circuit, but claims only the transistor. A secrecy order is placed on
 application M. Once examination of application L is completed and the transistor claim
 is allowable, application L should pass to issue.
 

 

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 2301-Interference Proceedings 
 2301.01-Statutory Basis 

 2301.02-Definitions 

 2301.03-Interfering Subject Matter 

 2301.04-Applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(g) to Applications filed on or after March 16, 2013 

 
 

 2302-Consult an Interference Practice Specialist 

 2303-Completion of Examination 
 2303.01-Issuance and Suspension 

 2303.02-Other Outstanding Issues with Patents 

 
 

 2304-Suggesting an Interference 
 2304.01-Preparation of an Application for Interference 
 2304.01(a)-Interference Search 

 2304.01(b)-Obtaining Control Over Involved Files 

 2304.01(c)-Translation of Foreign Benefit Application 

 2304.01(d)-Sorting Claims 

 
 

 2304.02-Applicant Suggestion 
 2304.02(a)-Identifying the Other Application or Patent 

 2304.02(b)-Counts and Corresponding Claims 

 2304.02(c)-Explaining Priority 

 2304.02(d)-Adequate Written Description 

 
 

 2304.03-Patentee Suggestion 

 2304.04-Examiner Suggestion 
 2304.04(a)-Interfering Claim Already in Application 

 2304.04(b)-Requiring a Claim 

 2304.04(c)-Rejections Based on Disclaimer 

 
 

 2304.05-Common Ownership 

 
 

 2305-Requiring a Priority Showing 

 2306-Secrecy Order Cases 

 2307-Action During an Interference 
 2307.01-Ex Parte Communications 

 2307.02-Access to Related Files 

 2307.03-Suspension of Related Examinations 

 2307.04-Additional Parties to Interference 

 2307.05-Board Action on Related Files 

 2307.06-Action at the Board 

 
 

 2308-Action After an Interference 
 2308.01-Final Disposal of Claims 

 2308.02-Added or Amended Claims 

 2308.03-Estoppel Within the Office 
 2308.03(a)-Losing Party 

 2308.03(b)-No Interference-in-Fact 

 2308.03(c)-No Second Interference 

 
 

 2308.04-Office Procedure Following Decision by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit 

 
 

 2309-National Aeronautics and Space Administration or Department of Energy 

 2310-Derivation Proceedings 
 2310.01-Statutory Basis 

 2310.02-Definitions 

 
 

 2311-Consult a Technology Center Practice Specialist 

 2312-Board May Assume Jurisdiction 

 2313-Action Once a Derivation Proceeding is Instituted 

 2314-Action at the Board 

 2315-Action After a Derivation Proceeding is Decided 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 
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 Last Modified: 
 
 03/09/2026 20:50:45