Form PTO / SB / 08A Information Disclosure Statement by Applicant

What Is Form PTO/SB/08A?

This is a legal form that was released by the U.S. Department of Commerce - Patent and Trademark Office on July 1, 2009 and used country-wide. As of today, no separate filing guidelines for the form are provided by the issuing department.

FAQ

Q: What is PTO/SB/08A form?
A: PTO/SB/08A is the form used for submitting an Information Disclosure Statement by the applicant to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Q: Who can submit the PTO/SB/08A form?
A: Only the applicant or the assignee of the entire interest can submit the PTO/SB/08A form.

Q: What is the purpose of submitting an Information Disclosure Statement?
A: The purpose of submitting an Information Disclosure Statement is to inform the USPTO of any prior art or information that may be relevant to the patentability of the invention being claimed in a patent application.

Q: What documents should be included with the PTO/SB/08A form?
A: The PTO/SB/08A form should be accompanied by a listing of the prior art references and copies of the cited documents.

Q: What is considered prior art?
A: Prior art includes any information or documents that were publicly available before the filing date of the patent application.

Q: Is it mandatory to submit an Information Disclosure Statement?
A: No, it is not mandatory to submit an Information Disclosure Statement. However, it is recommended to disclose any known prior art to avoid potential issues with the validity of the patent.

Q: What happens after submitting an Information Disclosure Statement?
A: After submitting an Information Disclosure Statement, the USPTO will consider the disclosed prior art during the examination of the patent application.