Appeal No. 97-4252 Page 11
Application No. 08/226,520
In order to make a rejection, the examiner has the
initial burden to establish a reasonable basis to question the
enablement provided for the claimed invention. See In re
Wright, 999 F.2d 1557, 1561-62, 27 USPQ2d 1510, 1513 (Fed.
Cir. 1993) (examiner must provide a reasonable explanation as
to why the scope of protection provided by a claim is not
adequately enabled by the disclosure). A disclosure which
contains a teaching of the manner and process of making and
using an invention in terms which correspond in scope to those
used in describing and defining the subject matter sought to
be patented must be taken as being in compliance with the
enablement requirement of
35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph, unless there is a reason to
doubt the objective truth of the statements contained therein
which must be relied on for enabling support. Assuming that
sufficient reason for such doubt exists, a rejection for
failure to teach how to make and/or use will be proper on that
basis. See In re Marzocchi, 439 F.2d 220, 223, 169 USPQ 367,
369 (CCPA 1971). As stated by the court,
it is incumbent upon the Patent Office, whenever a
rejection on this basis is made, to explain why it doubts
the truth or accuracy of any statement in a supporting
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