SNQ

Law & Legal abbreviation · Intellectual Property

SNQ stands for Substantial new question of patentability, an intellectual property abbreviation.

Threshold the USPTO must find before ordering ex parte reexamination of an issued patent: earlier patents or printed publications must raise a question of patentability not already considered in the same way during prior examination.

Example: The examiner found an SNQ based on a 1998 article that was never cited during prosecution.

Usage notes

Reexamination under 35 U.S.C. §§ 302 to 307 dates to 1981 and remains available to anyone, including the patent owner. Unlike inter partes review, it is handled by a central reexamination unit of examiners, and the requester does not participate after the initial request.

Related abbreviations

More intellectual property abbreviations

• PRO – Performing rights organization
• PTA – Patent term adjustment
• PTE – Patent term extension
• RCE – Request for continued examination
• SEP – Standard-essential patent
• SM – Service mark
• SOU – Statement of use
• SPC – Supplementary protection certificate
• TD – Terminal disclaimer
• TEAS – Trademark Electronic Application System
• TM – Trademark
• TMEP – Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure

See all 50 intellectual property abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not legal advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.