[ # 2150 Examination Guidelines for 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 as Amended by the First Inventor To File Provisions of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act [R-11.2013] *[Editor Note: See **[MPEP § 2159](s2159.html#ch2100_d20034_1dc34_1dd)** et seq. to determine whether an application is subject to examination under the FITF provisions, and **[MPEP § 2131](s2131.html#d0e202959)**-**[MPEP § 2138](s2138.html#d0e207005)** for examination of applications subject to **[pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302383)**.]* Continued Applicability of **[pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302383)** and **[103](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302450)**: The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) revised **[35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#al_d1fbe1_234ed_52)** and thereby, the standard to determine what prior art is available during examination of an application. See Public Law 112-29, 125 Stat. 284 (2011). The changes to **[35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#al_d1fbe1_234ed_52)** and **[103](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#al_d1fbe1_19797_b0)** in the AIA do not apply to any application filed before March 16, 2013. Thus, any application filed before March 16, 2013, is governed by **[pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302383)** and **[103](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302450)** (i.e., the application is a pre-AIA (first to invent) application (hereinafter "pre-AIA application")). Note that neither the filing of a request for continued examination, nor entry into the national stage under **[35 U.S.C. 371](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e307164)**, constitutes the filing of a new application. Accordingly, even if a request for continued examination under **[37 CFR 1.114](mpep-9020-appx-r.html#d0e322625)** is filed on or after March 16, 2013, in an application that was filed before March 16, 2013, the application remains subject to **[pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302383)** and **[103](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302450)**. Submission of an amendment including a claim that includes new matter on or after March 16, 2013, also does not affect an application’s status as a pre-AIA application. See **[35 U.S.C. 132(a)](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e303192)**. Similarly, a PCT application filed under **[35 U.S.C. 363](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e306994313)** before March 16, 2013, is subject to **[pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302383)** and **[103](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302450)**, regardless of whether the application enters the national stage under **[35 U.S.C. 371](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e307164)** before or after March 16, 2013. Applications filed on or after March 16, 2013 are also subject to **[pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302383)** if the application has never contained a claim with an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013 and has never claimed the benefit of an application that ever contained such a claim. **[MPEP §§ 2131](s2131.html#d0e202959)**-**[2138](s2138.html#d0e207005)** provide examination guidance on the prior art available in the examination of applications subject to **[pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102](mpep-9015-appx-l.html#d0e302383)**. [[top]](#top) ]