3 ms·

> from what I can tell . . . This is really not how it works.

• chris_j 14y ago
  Would you mind expanding on how a prior art search works? It might be of great interest to folks here.
  • btn 14y ago
    The USPTO publishes its operating manual for examiners on its website. All of chapter 900 deals with prior art and searches for it, but an overview of the process can be found in these sections: 904: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/0900_904.htm http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/0900_904... 904.02: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/0900_904.htm http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/0900_904... The process examiners use for a specific patent is also documented by them in the file wrapper for every application and is available in PAIR: http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/pair http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal/pair
  • monochromatic 14y ago
    Just empirically, it seems that examiners almost never use google.
• tluyben2 14y ago
  Why not? Prior art is prior art; if it's in Google, it's prior art. Why do they make it so difficult (I know the answer but I hope i'm wrong)?