MPEP Section 1211.04, < Remand by Board for Further Search

Executive summary:

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1211.04 < Remand by Board for Further Search

It should be >extremely< rare for the Board to remand a case to the examiner for further search. A remand to the examiner extends the total pendency of an application and may necessitate an extension of the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(b). See MPEP § 2710. When such a remand is necessary, the Board should conduct a search (on-line or otherwise) of at least one subclass and cite art from that subclass to demonstrate the basis on which it concludes that a search of this area would be *>material<.The art cited need not be art upon which a rejection can be made.