Who can file a petition for patent term adjustment?
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.
While MPEP 2736 does not explicitly state who can file a petition for patent term adjustment, it clearly indicates who cannot file such petitions. The section states:
“No submission or petition on behalf of a third party concerning patent term adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) will be considered by the Office.”
By inference, this means that only the patent applicant or patent owner can file a petition for patent term adjustment. Third parties are expressly prohibited from doing so. If you need to file a patent term adjustment petition, you must be the applicant, the patent owner, or their authorized representative.