What is the role of the Office of Patent Legal Administration (OPLA) in the reissue review process?

The Office of Patent Legal Administration (OPLA) plays a crucial role in the reissue review process. According to MPEP 1456:

“Where the reissue application has been reviewed by the Office of Patent Legal Administration (OPLA) as indicated in MPEP § 1441.01, the reissue application file must be returned to OPLA for a second review prior to issue of the reissue.”

This means that OPLA conducts two reviews during the reissue process:

  1. An initial review as described in MPEP § 1441.01
  2. A final review before the reissue patent is issued

These reviews help ensure that all legal and procedural requirements for reissue patents are met before the patent is granted.

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Tags: office of patent legal administration, opla, patent examination, reissue review