What are the fee requirements in merged reexamination proceedings?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
In merged reexamination proceedings, where multiple reexamination files are combined, the fee requirements are simplified. The MPEP states: When a fee is required in a merged proceeding, only a single fee is needed, even though multiple copies of the submissions (one for each file) are required.
This means that parties involved in merged proceedings don’t need to pay separate fees for each individual reexamination file. However, it’s important to note that while only one fee is required, multiple copies of submissions may still be necessary.
For more detailed information on merged proceedings, the MPEP directs readers to MPEP § 2686.01.