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 .
Claims 2, 4, 7, 14 and 16-31 are currently pending. Claims 21-31 have been added as new. Claims 2, 14 and 17-20 have been amended. Claims 1, 3, 5, 6, 8-13 and 15 have been canceled.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 2, 4, 7, 14 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Miyake (JP 2004-029680 A1).
Regarding claims 2, 14 and 16, Miyake ( see abstract, claims, [0001 & 0156-0159], figures and examples i.e. image recording layer 6) teach a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support; and an image-recording layer on the support [0106], wherein the image-recording layer contains a copolymer having the following structure:
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[0157] meeting the limitation of Copolymer B having a constitutional unit meeting the limitation of Formula (a4), Formula (1) wherein Rh represents a group including two or more structures represented by Formula (Ia) and unit having a hydrophilic group on a side chain as instantly claimed.
Regarding claim 4, Miyake recognizes the lithographic printing plate precursor is on-press development type lithographic printing plate precursor [0122].
Regarding claim 7, Miyake discloses the image recording layer further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of resin particles and a color developing agent ([0104-0105]; dyes)
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 2, 4, 7, 14 and 16-31 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 17-31 are allowed.
No prior art teaches a method of preparing a lithographic printing plate or a lithographic printing method comprising exposing the printing plate precursor in shape of an image; supplying at least one selected from the group consisting of a printing ink and dampening water on a printer to remove an image recording layer , wherein the image recording layer contains a (meth)acrylic polymer A having a substitutent containing two or more silicone atoms in a side chain as recited by instant claims 17 and 19 and a polymer B having a constitutional unit represented by Formula (I) as recited by instant claim 18 and 20 , in a non-image area as instantly claimed.
Conclusion
Applicant's submission of an information disclosure statement under 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the timing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) on 05/20/2026 prompted the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 609.04(b). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHANCEITY N ROBINSON whose telephone number is (571)270-3786. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday (8:00 am-6:00 pm; IFP; PHP).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anthony Zimmer can be reached at 571-270-3591. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHANCEITY N ROBINSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1737
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