Petitions for expedited license filed without a corresponding U.S. application are assigned control numbers – the letter “P” followed by a 5 digit number. These petitions are processed and then stored. When the applicant files a subsequent U.S. patent application, the L&R security screener has no way of determining whether or not a previous petition was filed or whether or not the subject matter is identical. At this time, all petitions for license are treated separately and distinct from any other previous or subsequent petition.
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