(a)

(1) Information in an application will not be expunged, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section or §41.7(a) or §42.7(a) of this title.

(2) Information forming part of the original disclosure (i.e., written specification including the claims, drawings, and any preliminary amendment present on the filing date of the application) will not be expunged from the application file.

(b) An applicant may request that the Office expunge information, other than what is excluded by paragraph (a)(2) of this section, by filing a petition under this paragraph. Any petition to expunge information from an application must include the fee set forth in §1.17(g) and establish to the satisfaction of the Director that the expungement of the information is appropriate in which case a notice granting the petition for expungement will be provided.

(c) Upon request by an applicant and payment of the fee specified in §1.19(b), the Office will furnish copies of an application, unless the application has been disposed of (see §§1.53(e), (f) and (g)). The Office cannot provide or certify copies of an application that has been disposed of.

[68 FR 38628, June 30, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 49999, Aug. 12, 2004; 69 FR 56540, Sept. 21, 2004; 77 FR 46624, Aug. 6, 2012; 77 FR 48818, Aug. 14, 2012]