How are twice-reissued patents formatted?
Twice-reissued patents have a specific formatting to distinguish changes made in the first and second reissue. The MPEP 1411 provides guidance on this:
“Examples of the form for a twice-reissued patent are found in Re. 23,558 and Re. 28,488. Double underlining and double bracketing are used in the second reissue application, while bold-faced type and double bracketing appear in the printed patent (the second reissue patent) to indicate further insertions and deletions, respectively, in the second reissue patent.”
Key formatting rules for twice-reissued patents:
- First reissue: Standard formatting (e.g., single underlining for additions, single brackets for deletions)
- Second reissue application: Double underlining for new additions, double bracketing for new deletions
- Printed second reissue patent: Bold-faced type for insertions, double bracketing for deletions
- Additions from the first reissue remain in italics in the second reissue application
- New deletions in the second reissue should be presented within sets of double brackets
This formatting helps distinguish between changes made in the original patent, the first reissue, and the second reissue, ensuring clarity in the patent’s evolution.
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