MPEP App. AI, Section 505 – Indication of Citations of Particular Relevance in the International Search Report | Midpage
§ Section 505
MPEP App. AI, Section 505
Indication of Citations of Particular Relevance in the International Search Report
Published Jul 1, 2015United States Patent and Trademark Office
(a) Where any document cited in the international search report is of particular relevance, the special indication required by Rule 43.5(c) shall consist of the letter(s) "X" and/or "Y" placed next to the citation of the said document.
(b) Category "X" is applicable where a document is such that when taken alone, a claimed invention cannot be considered novel or cannot be considered to involve an inventive step.
(c) Category "Y" is applicable where a document is such that a claimed invention cannot be considered to involve an inventive step when the document is combined with one or more other such documents, such combination being obvious to a person skilled in the art.