Once a search has been carried out, an Examiner then considers the documents found in the search, also known as prior art, and gives his opinion as to whether the invention meets the requirements for patentability. It is then up to the applicant (or more precisely, the patent attorney) to skilfully argue that a patent should be granted. This occurs during the examiantion process, the duration of which is dependent, amongst other things, on the prior art found, the complexity of the subject matter and the responses filed.
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