MPEP § 2288 — Issuance of Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate (Annotated Rules)

§2288 Issuance of Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2288, 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.

Issuance of Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate

This section addresses Issuance of Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 307, 37 CFR 1.570, and 37 CFR 1.525. Contains: 3 requirements and 6 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Reexamination Certificate

12 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-40eeb08f4b4ea99d5cafa5cd]
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate Must Set Forth Results and Patent Content
Note:
The Director must issue an ex parte reexamination certificate that outlines the results of the proceeding and the updated patent content.

(a) To conclude an ex parte reexamination proceeding, the Director will issue and publish an ex parte reexamination certificate in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 307 setting forth the results of the ex parte reexamination proceeding and the content of the patent following the ex parte reexamination proceeding.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.570Reexamination CertificateConclusion of Ex Parte ReexaminationEx Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-256196dd0f3d74de2edac950]
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate Issuance
Note:
An ex parte reexamination certificate will be issued and published for patents where an ex parte proceeding has been ordered and not merged with inter partes proceedings.

(b) An ex parte reexamination certificate will be issued and published in each patent in which an ex parte reexamination proceeding has been ordered under § 1.525 and has not been merged with any inter partes reexamination proceeding pursuant to § 1.989(a). Any statutory disclaimer filed by the patent owner will be made part of the ex parte reexamination certificate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.525Reexamination CertificateConclusion of Ex Parte ReexaminationMerged Reexamination Proceedings
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-0c4fc29e8dc901fccf2e4065]
Statutory Disclaimer Included in Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate
Note:
Any statutory disclaimer filed by the patent owner will be included in the ex parte reexamination certificate.

(b) An ex parte reexamination certificate will be issued and published in each patent in which an ex parte reexamination proceeding has been ordered under § 1.525 and has not been merged with any inter partes reexamination proceeding pursuant to § 1.989(a). Any statutory disclaimer filed by the patent owner will be made part of the ex parte reexamination certificate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.525Reexamination CertificateConclusion of Ex Parte ReexaminationEx Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-8fd48c2212d3192db103c5a6]
Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate Must Be Mailed to Patent Owner on Same Day
Note:
The ex parte reexamination certificate must be mailed to the patent owner at their provided address on the same day it is issued.

(c) The ex parte reexamination certificate will be mailed on the day of its date to the patent owner at the address as provided for in § 1.33(c). A copy of the ex parte reexamination certificate will also be mailed to the requester of the ex parte reexamination proceeding.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.33(c)Reexamination CertificateCorrespondence Address RequirementsConclusion of Ex Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-710e2924a739685091461145]
Copy of Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate for Requester
Note:
A copy of the ex parte reexamination certificate will also be mailed to the requester of the proceeding.

(c) The ex parte reexamination certificate will be mailed on the day of its date to the patent owner at the address as provided for in § 1.33(c). A copy of the ex parte reexamination certificate will also be mailed to the requester of the ex parte reexamination proceeding.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.33(c)Reexamination CertificateConclusion of Ex Parte ReexaminationEx Parte Reexamination
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2288-f6eff841edc3c5b144b9dfdf]
Reissued Patent as Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate
Note:
A reissued patent serves as the ex parte reexamination certificate when an ex parte reexamination proceeding is terminated by its grant.

(e) If the ex parte reexamination proceeding is terminated by the grant of a reissued patent as provided in § 1.565(d), the reissued patent will constitute the ex parte reexamination certificate required by this section and 35 U.S.C. 307.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.565(d)Reexamination CertificateConclusion of Ex Parte ReexaminationEx Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-5d9fcff0ce31c12bd6110d5b]
Reexamination Conclusion Requires Issuance of Certificate
Note:
A reexamination certificate must be issued and published at the conclusion of a proceeding ordered under 37 CFR 1.525, unless concluded by vacating the proceeding or granting a reissue patent.

Since abandonment is not possible in a reexamination proceeding, a reexamination certificate will be issued and published at the conclusion of the proceeding in each patent in which a reexamination proceeding has been ordered under 37 CFR 1.525 except where the reexamination has been concluded by vacating the reexamination proceeding or by the grant of a reissue patent on the same patent in which case the reissue patent also serves as the reexamination certificate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.525Reexamination CertificateReissue and ReexaminationConclusion of Ex Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-c615df859c806b9cb1efc24b]
Failure to Timely Respond Requires Reexamination Conclusion
Note:
If a reexamination is not timely responded to, the proceeding must be concluded.

Where the reexamination is to be concluded for a failure to timely respond to an Office action, see MPEP § 2266.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.570Reexamination CertificateConclusion of Ex Parte ReexaminationEx Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-f434e294c35841c687d200a0]
Contents of Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate
Note:
The certificate will list the results of the reexamination, cancel unpatentable claims, confirm patentable claims, and include any amendments or disclaimers.
The reexamination certificate will set forth the results of the proceeding and the content of the patent following the reexamination proceeding. The certificate will:
  • (A) cancel any patent claims determined to be unpatentable;
  • (B) confirm any patent claims determined to be patentable;
  • (C) incorporate into the patent any amended or new claims determined to be patentable;
  • (D) make any changes in the description approved during reexamination;
  • (E) include any statutory disclaimer or terminal disclaimer filed by the patent owner;
  • (F) identify unamended claims which were held invalid on final holding by another forum on any grounds;
  • (G) identify any patent claims not reexamined;
  • (H) be mailed on the day it is dated to the patent owner at the address provided for in 37 CFR 1.33(c) and a copy will be mailed to the third party requester; and
  • (I) identify patent claims, dependent on amended claims, determined to be patentable.
Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.570Reexamination CertificateConclusion of Ex Parte ReexaminationEx Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-e2cfd9f6dc9a79837d200358]
Identify Patentable Claims After Reexamination
Note:
The reexamination certificate will identify patent claims, dependent on amended claims, that are determined to be patentable after the proceeding.

The reexamination certificate will set forth the results of the proceeding and the content of the patent following the reexamination proceeding. The certificate will:

(I) identify patent claims, dependent on amended claims, determined to be patentable.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.570Reexamination CertificateEx Parte ReexaminationConclusion of Ex Parte Reexamination
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2288-5a159a3991787765d69721ed]
Reexamination Certificate Required for Issuance
Note:
A reissued patent must be issued as the reexamination certificate if a reexamination proceeding concludes with a grant of a reissued patent.

If a certificate issues and publishes which cancels all of the claims of the patent, no further Office proceedings will be conducted with regard to that patent or any reissue application or reexamination request directed thereto. However, in an extremely rare situation in which a reissue application is copending with a reexamination proceeding in which a reexamination certificate subsequently issues cancelling all claims of the patent, the patent owner may file a petition under 37 CFR 1.183 requesting waiver of the provisions of 37 CFR 1.570(d), to address claims that were pending in the reissue application prior to the issuance of the certificate. Any such petition must be accompanied by a paper cancelling any claim within the scope of the claims canceled by the certificate and pointing out why the claims remaining in the reissue application can be patentable, despite the cancellation of all the patent claims by certificate, i.e., why the remaining claims are patentable over the cancelled claims. Such a paper will be available to the examiner, should the petition be granted. See 37 CFR 1.570(d). See also MPEP § 1449.01, subsection I.A. If a reexamination proceeding is concluded by the grant of a reissued patent as provided for in 37 CFR 1.565(b), the reissued patent will constitute the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 and this section. See 37 CFR 1.570(e).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.183Reexamination CertificateReissue and ReexaminationConclusion of Ex Parte Reexamination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2288-53ffe8cc70cec98c672b6cd2]
Publication of Reexamination Certificate in Official Gazette
Note:
The reexamination certificate must be published in the Official Gazette on its issuance date, following the format used for reissue patents.

A notice of the issuance of each reexamination certificate will be published in the Official Gazette on its date of issuance in a format similar to that used for reissue patents. See 37 CFR 1.570(f) and MPEP § 2291.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.570(f)Reexamination CertificateReissue and ReexaminationConclusion of Ex Parte Reexamination
Topic

Examples of Waivers

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2288-124e70f327545cf030e754b9]
Waiver Petition for Pending Reissue Claims
Note:
Patent owners may file a petition to waive provisions if reissue claims remain after a certificate cancels all patent claims.

If a certificate issues and publishes which cancels all of the claims of the patent, no further Office proceedings will be conducted with regard to that patent or any reissue application or reexamination request directed thereto. However, in an extremely rare situation in which a reissue application is copending with a reexamination proceeding in which a reexamination certificate subsequently issues cancelling all claims of the patent, the patent owner may file a petition under 37 CFR 1.183 requesting waiver of the provisions of 37 CFR 1.570(d), to address claims that were pending in the reissue application prior to the issuance of the certificate. Any such petition must be accompanied by a paper cancelling any claim within the scope of the claims canceled by the certificate and pointing out why the claims remaining in the reissue application can be patentable, despite the cancellation of all the patent claims by certificate, i.e., why the remaining claims are patentable over the cancelled claims. Such a paper will be available to the examiner, should the petition be granted. See 37 CFR 1.570(d). See also MPEP § 1449.01, subsection I.A. If a reexamination proceeding is concluded by the grant of a reissued patent as provided for in 37 CFR 1.565(b), the reissued patent will constitute the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 and this section. See 37 CFR 1.570(e).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.183Examples of WaiversPetition to Suspend/Waive Rules (37 CFR 1.183)Reexamination Certificate

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Examples of Waivers
Reexamination Certificate
35 U.S.C. § 307
Examples of Waivers
Reexamination Certificate
37 CFR § 1.183
Reexamination Certificate37 CFR § 1.33(c)
Reexamination Certificate37 CFR § 1.525
Examples of Waivers
Reexamination Certificate
37 CFR § 1.565(b)
Reexamination Certificate37 CFR § 1.565(d)
Examples of Waivers
Reexamination Certificate
37 CFR § 1.570(d)
Examples of Waivers
Reexamination Certificate
37 CFR § 1.570(e)
Reexamination Certificate37 CFR § 1.570(f)
Reexamination Certificate37 CFR § 1.989(a)
Examples of Waivers
Reexamination Certificate
MPEP § 1449.01
Reexamination CertificateMPEP § 2266
Reexamination CertificateMPEP § 2291

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