MPEP Section 821, Treatment of Claims Held To Be Drawn to Nonelected Inventions

Executive summary:

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821 Treatment of Claims Held To Be Drawn to Nonelected Inventions

Claims held to be drawn to nonelected inventions, including claims **>drawn to nonelected species or inventions that may be eligible for rejoinder<, are treated as indicated in MPEP § 821.01 through § *>821.04<.

The propriety of a requirement to restrict, if traversed, is reviewable by petition under 37 CFR 1.144. In re Hengehold, 440 F.2d 1395, 169 USPQ 473 (CCPA 1971).

All claims that the examiner holds as not being directed to the elected subject matter are withdrawn from further consideration by the examiner in accordance with 37 CFR 1.142(b). See MPEP ** § 821.01 through § *>821.04<. The examiner should clearly set forth in the Office action the reasons why the claims withdrawn from consideration are not readable on the elected invention. Applicant may traverse the requirement pursuant to 37 CFR 1.143. If a final requirement for restriction is made by the examiner, applicant may file a petition under 37 CFR 1.144 for review of the restriction requirement.