MPEP § 2225 — Untimely Paper Filed Prior to Order under 35 U.S.C. 304 (Annotated Rules)

§2225 Untimely Paper Filed Prior to Order under 35 U.S.C. 304

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2026-01-17

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2225, 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.

Untimely Paper Filed Prior to Order under 35 U.S.C. 304

This section addresses Untimely Paper Filed Prior to Order under 35 U.S.C. 304. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 302, 37 CFR 1.501, and 37 CFR 1.555. Contains: 1 guidance statement, 1 permission, and 3 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Reexamination Order

3 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2225-7a921b5d6d51164aacee4777]
Notification of Returned/Expunged Papers Required
Note:
A copy of the notification letter for returned or expunged papers must be recorded in the patent file, but no copies of the actual papers will be retained by the Office.

After filing of a request for ex parte reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302, no papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than (A) citations of patents or printed publications under 37 CFR 1.501 or 37 CFR 1.555, (B) another complete request under 37 CFR 1.510 or 37 CFR 1.915, or (C) notifications pursuant to MPEP § 2282, should be filed with the Office prior to the date of the decision on the request for reexamination. Any papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than those under 37 CFR 1.501 or 1.555, or MPEP § 2282, filed prior to the decision on the request will be returned to the sender by the Central Reexamination Unit or Technology Center Director without consideration. If the papers are entered prior to discovery of the impropriety, such papers will be expunged from the record. A copy of the letter providing notification of the returned papers or expungement will be made of record in the patent file. However, no copy of the returned/expunged papers will be retained by the Office. If the submission of the returned/expunged papers is appropriate later in the proceedings, they may be filed and accepted by the Office at that time. See Patlex Corp. v. Mossinghoff, 771 F.2d 480, 226 USPQ 985, 989 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Knight, 217 USPQ 294 (Comm’r Pat. 1982) and In re Amp, 212 USPQ 826 (Comm’r Pat. 1981).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.501Reexamination OrderEx Parte ReexaminationCentral Reexamination Unit Processing
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2225-1c23d56169ebc0561fddb071]
Returned/Pages Expunged May Be Resubmitted Later
Note:
Papers returned or expunged from the record may be resubmitted at an appropriate time during proceedings.

After filing of a request for ex parte reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302, no papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than (A) citations of patents or printed publications under 37 CFR 1.501 or 37 CFR 1.555, (B) another complete request under 37 CFR 1.510 or 37 CFR 1.915, or (C) notifications pursuant to MPEP § 2282, should be filed with the Office prior to the date of the decision on the request for reexamination. Any papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than those under 37 CFR 1.501 or 1.555, or MPEP § 2282, filed prior to the decision on the request will be returned to the sender by the Central Reexamination Unit or Technology Center Director without consideration. If the papers are entered prior to discovery of the impropriety, such papers will be expunged from the record. A copy of the letter providing notification of the returned papers or expungement will be made of record in the patent file. However, no copy of the returned/expunged papers will be retained by the Office. If the submission of the returned/expunged papers is appropriate later in the proceedings, they may be filed and accepted by the Office at that time. See Patlex Corp. v. Mossinghoff, 771 F.2d 480, 226 USPQ 985, 989 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Knight, 217 USPQ 294 (Comm’r Pat. 1982) and In re Amp, 212 USPQ 826 (Comm’r Pat. 1981).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.501Reexamination OrderEx Parte ReexaminationCentral Reexamination Unit Processing
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2225-dc3eaa7e5ce44aa949a4ffb5]
Papers Directed to Merits Prohibited Before Decision
Note:
No papers addressing the merits of an ex parte reexamination can be filed with the Office before the decision on the request for reexamination.

After filing of a request for ex parte reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302, no papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than (A) citations of patents or printed publications under 37 CFR 1.501 or 37 CFR 1.555, (B) another complete request under 37 CFR 1.510 or 37 CFR 1.915, or (C) notifications pursuant to MPEP § 2282, should be filed with the Office prior to the date of the decision on the request for reexamination. Any papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than those under 37 CFR 1.501 or 1.555, or MPEP § 2282, filed prior to the decision on the request will be returned to the sender by the Central Reexamination Unit or Technology Center Director without consideration. If the papers are entered prior to discovery of the impropriety, such papers will be expunged from the record. A copy of the letter providing notification of the returned papers or expungement will be made of record in the patent file. However, no copy of the returned/expunged papers will be retained by the Office. If the submission of the returned/expunged papers is appropriate later in the proceedings, they may be filed and accepted by the Office at that time. See Patlex Corp. v. Mossinghoff, 771 F.2d 480, 226 USPQ 985, 989 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Knight, 217 USPQ 294 (Comm’r Pat. 1982) and In re Amp, 212 USPQ 826 (Comm’r Pat. 1981).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.501Reexamination OrderEx Parte ReexaminationCentral Reexamination Unit Processing
Topic

Ex Parte Reexamination

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2225-f76a60983838db69f28c974f]
Papers Directed to Merits Prohibited Before Decision
Note:
No papers addressing the merits of an ex parte reexamination can be filed with the Office before the decision on the request unless they are citations, another complete request, or notifications.

After filing of a request for ex parte reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302, no papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than (A) citations of patents or printed publications under 37 CFR 1.501 or 37 CFR 1.555, (B) another complete request under 37 CFR 1.510 or 37 CFR 1.915, or (C) notifications pursuant to MPEP § 2282, should be filed with the Office prior to the date of the decision on the request for reexamination. Any papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than those under 37 CFR 1.501 or 1.555, or MPEP § 2282, filed prior to the decision on the request will be returned to the sender by the Central Reexamination Unit or Technology Center Director without consideration. If the papers are entered prior to discovery of the impropriety, such papers will be expunged from the record. A copy of the letter providing notification of the returned papers or expungement will be made of record in the patent file. However, no copy of the returned/expunged papers will be retained by the Office. If the submission of the returned/expunged papers is appropriate later in the proceedings, they may be filed and accepted by the Office at that time. See Patlex Corp. v. Mossinghoff, 771 F.2d 480, 226 USPQ 985, 989 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Knight, 217 USPQ 294 (Comm’r Pat. 1982) and In re Amp, 212 USPQ 826 (Comm’r Pat. 1981).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.501Ex Parte ReexaminationReexamination OrderCentral Reexamination Unit Processing
Topic

Central Reexamination Unit Processing

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2225-c0473a9ae72efdbc1d854b35]
Merit Papers Filed Before Decision Expunged
Note:
Papers addressing the merits of an ex parte reexamination request, other than specific types, filed before the decision on the request will be removed from the record.

After filing of a request for ex parte reexamination under 35 U.S.C. 302, no papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than (A) citations of patents or printed publications under 37 CFR 1.501 or 37 CFR 1.555, (B) another complete request under 37 CFR 1.510 or 37 CFR 1.915, or (C) notifications pursuant to MPEP § 2282, should be filed with the Office prior to the date of the decision on the request for reexamination. Any papers directed to the merits of the reexamination other than those under 37 CFR 1.501 or 1.555, or MPEP § 2282, filed prior to the decision on the request will be returned to the sender by the Central Reexamination Unit or Technology Center Director without consideration. If the papers are entered prior to discovery of the impropriety, such papers will be expunged from the record. A copy of the letter providing notification of the returned papers or expungement will be made of record in the patent file. However, no copy of the returned/expunged papers will be retained by the Office. If the submission of the returned/expunged papers is appropriate later in the proceedings, they may be filed and accepted by the Office at that time. See Patlex Corp. v. Mossinghoff, 771 F.2d 480, 226 USPQ 985, 989 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Knight, 217 USPQ 294 (Comm’r Pat. 1982) and In re Amp, 212 USPQ 826 (Comm’r Pat. 1981).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.501Central Reexamination Unit ProcessingEx Parte ReexaminationReexamination Order

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Central Reexamination Unit Processing
Ex Parte Reexamination
Reexamination Order
35 U.S.C. § 302
Central Reexamination Unit Processing
Ex Parte Reexamination
Reexamination Order
37 CFR § 1.501
Central Reexamination Unit Processing
Ex Parte Reexamination
Reexamination Order
37 CFR § 1.510
Central Reexamination Unit Processing
Ex Parte Reexamination
Reexamination Order
37 CFR § 1.555
Central Reexamination Unit Processing
Ex Parte Reexamination
Reexamination Order
37 CFR § 1.915
Central Reexamination Unit Processing
Ex Parte Reexamination
Reexamination Order
MPEP § 2282
Central Reexamination Unit Processing
Ex Parte Reexamination
Reexamination Order
See Patlex Corp. v. Mossinghoff, 771 F.2d 480, 226 USPQ 985, 989 (Fed. Cir. 1985)

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: 2026-01-17