Manual of Patent Examining Procedure - MPEP

Table of Contents


2600 Optional Inter Partes Reexamination

2600 Optional Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2601 Introduction
-    -    2601.01 Flowcharts
-    2602 Citation of Prior Art
-    2609 Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2610 Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2611 Time for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2612 Persons Who May File a Request
-    2613 Representative of Requester
-    2614 Content of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2615 Fee for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2616 Substantial New Question of Patentability
-    2617 Statement in the Request Applying Prior Art
-    2618 Copies of Prior Art (Patents and Printed Publications)
-    2619 Copy of Printed Patent
-    2620 Certificate of Service
-    2622 Address of Patent Owner
-    2623 Withdrawal of Attorney or Agent
-    2624 Correspondence
-    2625 Untimely Paper Filed Prior to First Office Action
-    2626 Initial Processing of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2627 Incomplete Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2628 Informal Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
-    2629 Notice of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination in Official Gazette
-    2630 Constructive Notice to Patent Owner
-    2631 Processing of Request Corrections
-    2632 Public Access
-    -    2632.01 Determining If a Reexamination Was Filed for a Patent
-    2633 Processing in Technology Center
-    2634 Fee Processing and Procedure
-    2635 Record Systems
-    2636 Assignment of Reexamination
-    2637 Transfer Procedure
-    2638 Time Reporting
-    2640 Decision on Request
-    2641 Time for Deciding Request
-    2642 Criteria for Deciding Request
-    2643 Claims Considered in Deciding Request
-    2644 Prior Art on Which the Determination Is Based
-    2646 Decision Ordering Reexamination
-    2647 Decision Denying Reexamination
-    -    2647.01 Examples of Decisions on Requests
-    -    2647.02 Processing of Decision
-    2648 Petition From Denial of Request
-    2654 Conduct of Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings
-    2655 Who Reexamines
-    2656 Prior Art Patents and Printed Publications Reviewed by Examiner in Reexamination
-    2657 Listing of Prior Art
-    2658 Scope of Inter Partes Reexamination  
-    2659 Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel in Reexamination Proceedings
-    2660 First Office Action
-    2660.02 The Title
-    2660.03 Dependent Claims
-    2661 Special Status for Action
-    2662 Time for Response and Comments
-    2664 Mailing of Office Action
-    2665 Extension of Time for Patent Owner Response
-    2666 Patent Owner Response to Office Action
-    -    2666.01 Amendment by Patent Owner
-    -    2666.02 Correction of Patent Drawings
-    -    2666.03 Correction of Inventorship
-    2666.04 Fees for Adding Claims
-    -    2666.05 Third Party Comments After Patent Owner Response
-    2666.06 Service of Papers
-    -    2666.10 Patent Owner Does Not Respond to Office Action
-    -    2666.20 Third Party Does Not Comment After Patent Owner Response
-    -    2666.30 Submission Not Fully Responsive to Non-final Office Action
-    -    2666.40 Patent Owner Completion of Response and Third Party Comments Thereon
-    -    2666.50 Examiner Issues Notice of Defective Paper in Inter Partes Reexamination
-    -    2666.60 Response by Patent Owner/Third Party to Notice of Defective Paper
-    2667 Handling of Inappropriate or Untimely Filed Papers
-    2668 Petition for Entry of Late Papers for Revival of Reexamination Proceeding
-    2670 Clerical Handling
-    2671 Examiner Action Following Response/Comments or Expiration of Time for Same
-    -    2671.01 Examiner Issues Action on Merits That Does Not Close Prosecution
-    -    2671.02 Examiner Issues Action Closing Prosecution (ACP)
-    -    2671.03 Patentability Review Conferences
-    2672 Patent Owner Comments/Amendment After ACP and Third Party Requester Responsive Comments
-    2673 Examiner Consideration of Submissions After ACP and Further Action
-    -    2673.01 Reopening Prosecution After ACP
-    -    2673.02 Examiner Issues Right of Appeal Notice (RAN)
-    2674 Appeal in Reexamination
-    -    2674.01 Cross Appeal After Original Appeal
-    2675 Appellant Brief
-    -    2675.01 Respondent Brief
-    -    2675.02 Informalities in One or More of the Briefs
-    2676 Appeal Conference
-    2677 Examiner's Answer
-    2678 Rebuttal Briefs
-    2679 Office Treatment of Rebuttal Brief
-    2680 Oral Hearing
-    2681 Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences Decision
-    2682 Action Following Decision
-    2683 Appeal to Courts
-    2684 Information Material to Patentability in Reexamination Proceeding
-    2685 No Interviews on Merits in Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings
-    2686 Notification of Existence of Prior or Concurrent Proceedings and Decisions Thereon
-    -    2686.01 Multiple Copending Reexamination Proceedings
-    -    2686.02 Copending Reexamination and Interference Proceedings
-    -    2686.03 Copending Reexamination and Reissue Proceedings
-    -    2686.04 Reexamination and Litigation Proceedings
-    2687 Notice of Intent to Issue Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate (NIRC) and Conclusion of Reexamination Proceeding
-    -    2687.01 Examiner Consideration of Submissions After NIRC
-    2688 Issuance of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate
-    2689 Reexamination Review
-    2690 Format of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate
-    2691 Notice of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate Issuance in Official Gazette
-    2692 Distribution of Certificate
-    2693 Intervening Rights
-    2694 Concluded Reexamination Proceedings
-    2695 Reexamination of a Reexamination
-    2696 USPTO Forms To Be Used in Inter Partes Reexamination

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