USPTO Patent Manual Archive

The USPTO has made available all editions and revisions of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) back to 1948. The original (un-numbered) edition of 1948, the Manual of Patent Office Procedure, included extensive material previously published by the Patent Office Society. The 1st edition followed in 1949. The 8th edition was published in 2001 and has been revised five times, mostly recently in August 2006. This collection is a great resource for practicing patent attorneys, patent law scholars and patent searchers in need of historical information. The MPEP is the responsibility of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy.