What subject does MPEP 2600 cover?

MPEP 2600 specifically covers the procedures and guidelines associated with Inter Partes Reexamination. This section addresses how a third party can request a reexamination of a patent that is already issued, detailing the requirements, processes, and implications of such requests. The MPEP provides information about how the reexamination affects the patent's validity and the role of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in these proceedings.

In contrast, other subjects such as citations of prior art, design patent procedures, and utility patent applications are covered in different sections of the MPEP. Citations of prior art, for instance, would focus on how prior patents or publications can be referenced in the examination process to assess novelty and non-obviousness. Design patent procedures deal with the specific requirements and processes for obtaining design patents, while utility patent applications pertain to the procedures for filing and prosecuting standard patents based on utility. Each of these topics is important in their own right, but they are distinct from the focused content of MPEP 2600 regarding Inter Partes Reexamination.