Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 19/065,875

METHOD OF CONTROLLING WEEDS

Non-Final OA §102§Other
Filed
Feb 27, 2025
Priority
Dec 26, 2018 — JP 2018-242255 +7 more
Examiner
YOUNG, MICAH PAUL
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
SUMITOMO CHEMICAL Company, Limited
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
55%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 0m
Est. Remaining
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 55% of resolved cases
55%
Career Allowance Rate
542 granted / 983 resolved
-4.9% vs TC avg
Strong +30% interview lift
Without
With
+30.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 7m
Avg Prosecution
42 currently pending
Career history
1026
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
56.5%
+16.5% vs TC avg
§102
17.3%
-22.7% vs TC avg
§112
9.5%
-30.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 983 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §Other
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 2/27/25 was filed in a timely manner. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1,2 as being anticipated by Witschel et al (WO 2010/145992 hereafter Witschel). Witschel discloses a method for controlling weeds comprising administration of a herbicidal mixture (abstract). the herbicidal mixture of trifludimoxazin and imazethapyr (composition 1.33), which is the exact binary mixture of l.a.35 (trifludimoxazin) and imazethapyr; (page 5, lines 3-10); compound l.a.35, which is trifludimoxazin, (pages 10-11). Trifludimoxazin can be applied at 10 g/ha to 1500 g/ha, and the second herbicide can be applied at 10 g/ha to 1500 g/ha (page 86, line 36 to page 87, line 3). In binary compositions, weight ratio range of 1:75 to 75:1 is disclosed (page 57, lines 4-8). Witschel’ s synergistic examples do not include imazethapyr, but they show the use of trifludimoxazin at 6.25, 12.5 and 25 g/ha, and the second herbicide at 6.25, 12.5, 15, 135, 400 g/ha; and Witschel's one ternary mixture, the combined application amount of the second and third herbicide is 18.12 g/ha (Examples 2.1- 2.10, page 95 to 97). Thus, Witschel's exemplified binary mixture ratio of trifludimoxazin to the additional herbicide (not imazethapyr) ranges from 4:1 to 1:16 - the ratios are 2:1 (Examples 2.1, 2.2), 1:1 (Examples 2.3, 2.4), 1:10.8 (Example 2.5), 1:16 (Example 2.6), 1:1.2 (Example 2.7), 1:2.4 (Examples 2.8), and 4:1 (Example 2.9). These disclosures render the claims anticipated. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICAH PAUL YOUNG whose telephone number is (571)272-0608. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Hartley can be reached at 5712720616. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /MICAH PAUL YOUNG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1618
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 27, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §Other (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
55%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+30.0%)
3y 7m (~2y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 983 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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