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 .
Applicant’s reply and amendment filed 4/14/2026, are acknowledged. Claims 1, 3, 6-13, 15-20, 29-34, 39, 40 and 194-198 are pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments and amendment in response to the rejection of the claims under 35 U.S.C. §112 as it concerned the use of the term “derivative” are persuasive. However, the Applicant’s argument to the rejection as it concerns the use of the term “linker” is not persuasive. In this regard, Applicant refers to the specification for a definition of linker. See Reply at pages 8-9. However, although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1, 3, 6-13, 15-20, 29-34, 39, 40 and 194-196 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
The recitation of “linker” renders the claim 1 indefinite. The term “linker” may imply both functional or structure. Notwithstanding the permissible instances, the use of functional language in a claim may fail “to provide a clear-cut indication of the scope of the subject matter embraced by the claim" and thus be indefinite.” In re Swinehart, 439 F.2d 210, 213 (CCPA 1971). For example, when claims merely recite a description of a problem to be solved or a function or result achieved by the invention, the boundaries of the claim scope may be unclear. Further, without reciting the particular structure, materials or steps that accomplish the function or achieve the result, all means or methods of resolving the problem may be encompassed by the claim. Ariad Pharmaceuticals., Inc. v. Eli Lilly & Co., 598 F.3d 1336, 1353, 94 USPQ2d 1161, 1173 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (en banc). Here, there are no structural limits inherent or implied by the term “linker”. The limitation is unlimited and extends to all means or methods of linking, which are not adequately supported by the written description, generic examples in the specification notwithstanding.
Claims 2, 3, 6-9, 11-13, 15-18, 29-34, 39, 40 and 194-196 are indefinite because they depend on claim 1 and do not resolve the indefiniteness of claim 1’s use of “linker.”
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claims 197 and 198 appear to be free of the prior art.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 ROBERT S CABRAL whose telephone number is (571)270-3769. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am - 5 pm.
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/ROBERT S CABRAL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1614
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