Law - Non-Written Disclosure

Under PCT rules, an invention lacks novelty if it was made available to the public by means of an oral disclosure, use, exhibition or other nonwritten means, if that fact was indicated in a written disclosure which was made available to the public anywhere in the world prior to the relevant date of the international application. ( PCT Rule 64.2).

The position of the USPTO on this issue is described in the following section(s) of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP):

MPEP 1878.01(a) - Prior Art under Chapter II
MPEP 1878.01(a)(1) - Novelty under Chapter II
MPEP 1843 - The International Search

The following MPEP sections are not directly applicable to this task. However, since PCT patentability rules are somewhat similar in concept to U.S. patentability rules, they are included for general reference only. MPEP 2132 - 35 U.S.C. 102(a)
MPEP 2132.01 - Publications as 35 U.S.C. 102(a) Prior Art

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