MPEP § 1705 — Examiner Docket, Time, and Activity Recordation (Annotated Rules)

§1705 Examiner Docket, Time, and Activity Recordation

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1705, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Examiner Docket, Time, and Activity Recordation

This section addresses Examiner Docket, Time, and Activity Recordation. Contains: 10 guidance statements and 3 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

PTAB Jurisdiction

7 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-b45ab5c94cba15398fe9487b]
No Disposal Credit for Allowance or Abandonment After Examiner’s Answer
Note:
This rule states that no disposal credit is received for an allowance or abandonment after an examiner's answer or court decision, even though these actions are recorded on the examiner's report.
For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
  • (A) If any information is either missing from or incorrect on an examiner’s time and activity report, the examiner should promptly notify their supervisory patent examiner (SPE).
  • (B) The SPE will report the necessary changes and corrections directly into the integrated examination tools. These changes will be listed dynamically on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
  • (C) If any information is missing from the last examiner’s individual time and activity report at the end of a quarter (except at the end of a fiscal year) or is incorrect, the examiner should promptly notify their SPE and/or their TC troubleshooter. The troubleshooter will make the appropriate changes directly into the integrated examination tools. The changes will be listed dynamically on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
  • (D) In order to ensure that all reports are correct at the end of the fiscal year (rating period), or if any information is missing from or is incorrect on the last examiner’s individual time and activity report, the examiner should immediately notify their SPE of any needed corrections. These changes will be reflected in the examiner’s final biweekly time and activity report for the entire fiscal year.
Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresEstoppel After Judgment
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-5ebe949c2bba1851d7cd2b4f]
Examiner Must Notify SPE of Inaccurate Time Reports
Note:
An examiner must promptly inform their supervisory patent examiner if any information is missing or incorrect on their time and activity report.

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report. (A) If any information is either missing from or incorrect on an examiner’s time and activity report, the examiner should promptly notify their supervisory patent examiner (SPE).

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresExaminer Docket Management
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-709a16928ccc07a886d174ec]
SPE Must Report Necessary Changes Directly Into Integrated Tools
Note:
The SPE is required to report necessary changes and corrections directly into the integrated examination tools for actions leading to allowance or abandonment.

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
…
(B) The SPE will report the necessary changes and corrections directly into the integrated examination tools.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresExaminer Docket Management
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-cd0c74b1adc540c023751814]
Changes Listed Dynamically on Examiner Report
Note:
These changes are dynamically listed on the examiner’s individual time and activity report after an allowance or abandonment.

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
…
These changes will be listed dynamically on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresExaminer Docket Management
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-df5293368977d44b7d3faad1]
Examiner Must Notify SPE/TC Troubleshooter of Missing or Incorrect Information in Time Reports
Note:
Examiners are required to promptly notify their SPE and/or TC troubleshooter if any information is missing or incorrect in the last time and activity report at the end of a quarter (except fiscal year-end).

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
…
(C) If any information is missing from the last examiner’s individual time and activity report at the end of a quarter (except at the end of a fiscal year) or is incorrect, the examiner should promptly notify their SPE and/or their TC troubleshooter.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresExaminer Docket Management
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-f0f51c5612aa72c321f25d43]
Time and Activity Changes Required for Missing Information
Note:
If any information is missing from the last examiner’s individual time and activity report, the troubleshooter must make appropriate changes directly into the integrated examination tools.

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
…
The troubleshooter will make the appropriate changes directly into the integrated examination tools.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresExaminer Docket Management
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-a8e82ca151855b222166c8cd]
Dynamic Listing of Missing Information
Note:
If any information is missing from the last examiner’s individual time and activity report, it must be promptly reported to the SPE or TC troubleshooter for dynamic correction.

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
…
The changes will be listed dynamically on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresExaminer Docket Management
Topic

Examiner Docket Management

3 rules
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-1705-cea8426faa3909ca30f87ffe]
Examiner Actions Must Be Listed on Time Report
Note:
Each examiner’s actions that are counted and reported to the USPTO must be listed by application number on their individual time and activity report for verification.

Each examiner’s action that is counted and reported to the USPTO’s integrated examination tools will be listed by application number on their individual time and activity report. The time and activity report should be checked by the examiner to verify that all applications worked on for the biweekly report period are properly listed.

Jump to MPEP SourceExaminer Docket ManagementPatent Data Management Systems
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-d64f7f0190d2a985ef859893]
Examiner Must Verify Listed Applications
Note:
The examiner is required to check the time and activity report to ensure all applications worked on during the biweekly period are correctly listed.

Each examiner’s action that is counted and reported to the USPTO’s integrated examination tools will be listed by application number on their individual time and activity report. The time and activity report should be checked by the examiner to verify that all applications worked on for the biweekly report period are properly listed.

Jump to MPEP SourceExaminer Docket ManagementPatent Data Management Systems
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-1705-4e4e2c1266a9ae129167464f]
Examiner Disposal Actions Require Credit
Note:
An examiner must receive a credit for actions including allowance, abandonment, and specific examination procedures.
An examiner receives a "disposal" credit for the following actions:
  • (A) Allowance;
  • (B) Abandonment;
  • (C) Requests for Continued Examination;
  • (D) Examiner’s Answer;
  • (E) International Preliminary Examination Report; and
  • (F) Institution of an interference or derivation proceeding wherein the application would be in condition for allowance but for the interference or derivation proceeding.
Jump to MPEP SourceExaminer Docket ManagementPatent Data Management SystemsDerivation Proceedings (AIA)
Topic

Estoppel After Judgment

2 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-5b86703e7f1840a9a217a6f9]
Examiner Must Notify SPE of Needed Corrections to Time and Activity Report
Note:
Examiners must immediately inform their SPE of any required corrections to ensure the accuracy of reports at the end of the fiscal year.

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
…
(D) In order to ensure that all reports are correct at the end of the fiscal year (rating period), or if any information is missing from or is incorrect on the last examiner’s individual time and activity report, the examiner should immediately notify their SPE of any needed corrections.

Jump to MPEP SourceEstoppel After JudgmentPTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1705-43863801ce5c81dcf8acaf86]
Changes Reflected in Final Biweekly Report
Note:
Examiners must notify their SPE of any needed corrections to ensure the final biweekly time and activity report is accurate for the entire fiscal year.

For either an allowance or an abandonment after an Examiner’s Answer or decision by a court or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, no disposal credit is received, though these actions are indicated on the examiner’s individual time and activity report.
…
These changes will be reflected in the examiner’s final biweekly time and activity report for the entire fiscal year.

Jump to MPEP SourceEstoppel After JudgmentPTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures
Topic

Derivation Proceedings (AIA)

1 rules
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-1705-647e9c97792c91f7ab93675a]
Institution of Interference Proceeding Where Application Would Allow
Note:
An examiner earns a 'disposal' credit for initiating an interference or derivation proceeding when the application would otherwise be in condition for allowance.

An examiner receives a "disposal" credit for the following actions:
…
(F) Institution of an interference or derivation proceeding wherein the application would be in condition for allowance but for the interference or derivation proceeding.

Jump to MPEP SourceDerivation Proceedings (AIA)Examiner Docket ManagementPatent Data Management Systems

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31