# MPEP § 704.01: Search

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.01

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 704.01
- **Heading:** Search
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 0700 - Examination of Applications / MPEP § 704.01

## Text

After reading the specification and claims, the examiner searches the
prior art. The subject of searching is more fully treated in
MPEP Chapter 900
. See
especially
MPEP §§
904
through
904.03
. The invention should be
thoroughly understood before a search is undertaken. However, informal cases, or those
which can only be imperfectly understood when they come up for action in their regular
turn are also given a search, in order to avoid piecemeal prosecution.
PREVIOUS EXAMINER’S SEARCH
When an examiner is assigned to act on an application which has
received one or more actions by some other examiner, the examiner should review the
previous search to ensure it is thorough and complete. See
MPEP § 904.02
. In
general the second examiner should not take an entirely new approach to the
application or attempt to reorient the point of view of the previous examiner, or
make a new search in the mere hope of finding something. See
MPEP § 719.05
.

## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 701 Statutory Authority for Examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S701.md)
- [MPEP § 702 Requisites of the Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S702.md)
- [MPEP § 702.01 Obviously Informal Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S702.01.md)
- [MPEP § 703 [Reserved]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S703.md)
- [MPEP § 704.01 Search](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.01.md)
- [MPEP § 704.10 Requirements for Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.10.md)
- [MPEP § 704.11 What Information May Be Required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.11.md)
- [MPEP § 704.11(a) Examples of Information Reasonably Required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.11(a).md)
- [MPEP § 704.11(b) When May a Requirement for Information Be Made](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.11(b).md)
- [MPEP § 704.12 Replies to a Requirement for Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12.md)
- [MPEP § 704.12(a) Relationship of Requirement for Information to Duty of Disclosure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12(a).md)
- [MPEP § 704.12(b) What Constitutes a Complete Reply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12(b).md)
- [MPEP § 704.12(c) Treatment of an Incomplete Reply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12(c).md)
- [MPEP § 704.13 Time Periods for Reply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.01. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.