Hello All,
Does anyone know whether or not a serial number in a US application can be reused when the series changes if the same number in the previous series is still pending?
For example: an application was assigned 123,456 in 1990 and has not granted. Another completely different application is assigned 123,456 in 1995, and subsequently granted as a patent in 1999. Does that mean the 1990 application was abandoned, or was the number simply re-used because the series changed from 08 to 09?
I'm hoping this will be a way to determine the status of those mysterious US applications we see as priority documents in patent families and can't find anything about. If not, does anyone know a way to find out if a US application went abandoned if there's no US children? The application I'm interested in is the priority of an EP. The INPADOC record doesn't say anything about the US priority lapsing.
Thank you!
Heather Mariacher
LAHIVE & COCKFIELD, LLP
28 State Street
Boston, MA 02109
T: (617) 227-7400 x369
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information contained in this email is confidential and intended
only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader
of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified
that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication
is strictly prohibited. Thomson Scientific will accept no responsibility
or liability in respect to this email other than to the addressee. If you
have received this communication in error, please notify us
immediately via email: postmaster@derwent.co.uk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Fri Feb 14 2003 - 11:57:18 GMT