The USPTO has published an executive summary of a new project that aims to create approximately 1,300 “search templates” for each of the ~600 classified areas of science and technology found in the Manual of Classification.

According to the notice published in the 22 November Official Gazette, search templates will define the search field and resource areas of general subject matter, classes/subclasses, patent documents (both US and foreign) and non-patent literature that an examiner should consider each time a patent application is examined in the given classification.

Executive Summary – Search Template Project http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/og/2005/week47/patexsu.htm

Search Template Project
http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/searchtemplates/

Mike White
Kingston, Ontario