What are the two main ways to overcome a double-patenting rejection?

The two main ways to overcome a double-patenting rejection are by canceling claims or filing a terminal disclaimer. Double patenting occurs when two patents have claims that are not patentably distinct from each other, leading to a potential conflict in patent rights.

Canceling claims directly addresses the examiner's concerns by eliminating the overlapping claims, thus helping to establish that the remaining claims are distinct from those in the prior patent. This option simplifies the application and resolves the redundancy issue.

Filing a terminal disclaimer is another effective method. This legal document disclaims any term of the new patent that would extend beyond the term of the earlier patent, thereby ensuring that the two patents cannot be enforced in a way that creates an unjust extension of patent rights. By doing this, the applicant indicates an acceptance of the following validity of the earlier patent while seeking protection for the newer invention.

The other choices do not effectively address the nature of double-patenting rejections. Adding or modifying claims may not resolve the underlying issue of overlapping patentability. Seeking a court ruling or changing patent ownership could lead to additional complications rather than directly overcoming the rejection. Submitting additional prior art or evidence would not fix the problem of non-distinct claims, as double patenting is