MPEP § 2765 — Petition for Stay in Processing of Patent Term Extension Application (Annotated Rules)

§2765 Petition for Stay in Processing of Patent Term Extension Application

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2765, 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.

Petition for Stay in Processing of Patent Term Extension Application

This section addresses Petition for Stay in Processing of Patent Term Extension Application. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 156(e)(1), 35 U.S.C. 154(a), and 37 CFR 1.182. Contains: 1 requirement, 1 guidance statement, 2 permissions, and 2 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Notice of Expiration

4 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2765-2230c96b3909f0daed2c474f]
Petition for Staying Patent Term Extension Processing
Note:
A patent owner may petition to stay processing of a patent term extension application if unresolved issues remain, such as interference or appeals. The petition can only be granted for up to six months and must show justice requires the stay.

Sometimes situations arise where the Office is ready to issue a Notice of Final Determination and grant a certificate of extension under 35 U.S.C. 156(e)(1), but unresolved issues relating to the patent remain. Such issues could include, but are not limited to, involvement in an interference, an appeal of a trial decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or the filing of a reissue application. When such situations arise, the patent owner may want to stay the processing of the patent term extension application. A stay of processing of an application for patent term extension shall be by way of a petition under 37 CFR 1.182. Any petition for stay can only be granted for a period of up to six months. The Office analogizes such petitions for a stay in the patent term extension proceeding under 37 CFR 1.182 to requests for staying action in patent applications and for deferring issuance of a patent filed under 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314, respectively. The standard for granting requests under both 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314 is good and sufficient cause. When the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a) and (b) has lapsed, or will lapse, for any patent(s) for which extension has been sought during any stay to be granted, the patent owner needs to show that justice requires the stay so requested. Therefore, the applicant seeking a stay in the processing of the extension application should provide detailed reasons why a stay is necessary. See, e.g., the petition for stay granted in U.S. Patent No. 8,829,165 and contrast with the petition for stay that was denied-in-part in U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.182Notice of ExpirationPTE Determination ProcedureConsent of Assignee
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2765-e820da823faf12a5e2dc0a85]
Petition for Stay of Patent Term Extension Processing Limited to Six Months
Note:
A petition for staying the processing of a patent term extension application can only be granted for up to six months.

Sometimes situations arise where the Office is ready to issue a Notice of Final Determination and grant a certificate of extension under 35 U.S.C. 156(e)(1), but unresolved issues relating to the patent remain. Such issues could include, but are not limited to, involvement in an interference, an appeal of a trial decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or the filing of a reissue application. When such situations arise, the patent owner may want to stay the processing of the patent term extension application. A stay of processing of an application for patent term extension shall be by way of a petition under 37 CFR 1.182. Any petition for stay can only be granted for a period of up to six months. The Office analogizes such petitions for a stay in the patent term extension proceeding under 37 CFR 1.182 to requests for staying action in patent applications and for deferring issuance of a patent filed under 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314, respectively. The standard for granting requests under both 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314 is good and sufficient cause. When the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a) and (b) has lapsed, or will lapse, for any patent(s) for which extension has been sought during any stay to be granted, the patent owner needs to show that justice requires the stay so requested. Therefore, the applicant seeking a stay in the processing of the extension application should provide detailed reasons why a stay is necessary. See, e.g., the petition for stay granted in U.S. Patent No. 8,829,165 and contrast with the petition for stay that was denied-in-part in U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.182Notice of ExpirationPTE Determination ProcedureTerm Lapse for Maintenance Fee
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2765-58c2d3c8dc1c6ab0133350a3]
Standard for Granting Stay Requests
Note:
The standard for granting requests to stay processing of patent term extension applications is good and sufficient cause.

Sometimes situations arise where the Office is ready to issue a Notice of Final Determination and grant a certificate of extension under 35 U.S.C. 156(e)(1), but unresolved issues relating to the patent remain. Such issues could include, but are not limited to, involvement in an interference, an appeal of a trial decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or the filing of a reissue application. When such situations arise, the patent owner may want to stay the processing of the patent term extension application. A stay of processing of an application for patent term extension shall be by way of a petition under 37 CFR 1.182. Any petition for stay can only be granted for a period of up to six months. The Office analogizes such petitions for a stay in the patent term extension proceeding under 37 CFR 1.182 to requests for staying action in patent applications and for deferring issuance of a patent filed under 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314, respectively. The standard for granting requests under both 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314 is good and sufficient cause. When the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a) and (b) has lapsed, or will lapse, for any patent(s) for which extension has been sought during any stay to be granted, the patent owner needs to show that justice requires the stay so requested. Therefore, the applicant seeking a stay in the processing of the extension application should provide detailed reasons why a stay is necessary. See, e.g., the petition for stay granted in U.S. Patent No. 8,829,165 and contrast with the petition for stay that was denied-in-part in U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.182Notice of ExpirationPTE Determination ProcedureTerm Lapse for Maintenance Fee
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2765-50043d3c3998195c0e8dc844]
Petition for Stay Required When Patent Term Lapsed
Note:
The patent owner must show justice requires a stay when seeking an extension after the patent term has lapsed.

Sometimes situations arise where the Office is ready to issue a Notice of Final Determination and grant a certificate of extension under 35 U.S.C. 156(e)(1), but unresolved issues relating to the patent remain. Such issues could include, but are not limited to, involvement in an interference, an appeal of a trial decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or the filing of a reissue application. When such situations arise, the patent owner may want to stay the processing of the patent term extension application. A stay of processing of an application for patent term extension shall be by way of a petition under 37 CFR 1.182. Any petition for stay can only be granted for a period of up to six months. The Office analogizes such petitions for a stay in the patent term extension proceeding under 37 CFR 1.182 to requests for staying action in patent applications and for deferring issuance of a patent filed under 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314, respectively. The standard for granting requests under both 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314 is good and sufficient cause. When the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a) and (b) has lapsed, or will lapse, for any patent(s) for which extension has been sought during any stay to be granted, the patent owner needs to show that justice requires the stay so requested. Therefore, the applicant seeking a stay in the processing of the extension application should provide detailed reasons why a stay is necessary. See, e.g., the petition for stay granted in U.S. Patent No. 8,829,165 and contrast with the petition for stay that was denied-in-part in U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.182Notice of ExpirationTerm Lapse for Maintenance FeeConsent of Assignee
Topic

Patent Term Extension

2 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2765-7b2c3c5b5c8c22d98e6255fd]
Petition Required for Staying Patent Term Extension Processing
Note:
A petition under 37 CFR 1.182 is required to stay the processing of a patent term extension application when unresolved issues exist.

Sometimes situations arise where the Office is ready to issue a Notice of Final Determination and grant a certificate of extension under 35 U.S.C. 156(e)(1), but unresolved issues relating to the patent remain. Such issues could include, but are not limited to, involvement in an interference, an appeal of a trial decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or the filing of a reissue application. When such situations arise, the patent owner may want to stay the processing of the patent term extension application. A stay of processing of an application for patent term extension shall be by way of a petition under 37 CFR 1.182. Any petition for stay can only be granted for a period of up to six months. The Office analogizes such petitions for a stay in the patent term extension proceeding under 37 CFR 1.182 to requests for staying action in patent applications and for deferring issuance of a patent filed under 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314, respectively. The standard for granting requests under both 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314 is good and sufficient cause. When the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a) and (b) has lapsed, or will lapse, for any patent(s) for which extension has been sought during any stay to be granted, the patent owner needs to show that justice requires the stay so requested. Therefore, the applicant seeking a stay in the processing of the extension application should provide detailed reasons why a stay is necessary. See, e.g., the petition for stay granted in U.S. Patent No. 8,829,165 and contrast with the petition for stay that was denied-in-part in U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.182Patent Term ExtensionPatent TermNotice of Expiration
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2765-9a137f6886e9cbfc2f9b60cf]
Petition for Staying Patent Term Extension Processing
Note:
The patent owner may petition to stay processing of a patent term extension application if unresolved issues exist, and must provide detailed reasons why a stay is necessary.

Sometimes situations arise where the Office is ready to issue a Notice of Final Determination and grant a certificate of extension under 35 U.S.C. 156(e)(1), but unresolved issues relating to the patent remain. Such issues could include, but are not limited to, involvement in an interference, an appeal of a trial decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, or the filing of a reissue application. When such situations arise, the patent owner may want to stay the processing of the patent term extension application. A stay of processing of an application for patent term extension shall be by way of a petition under 37 CFR 1.182. Any petition for stay can only be granted for a period of up to six months. The Office analogizes such petitions for a stay in the patent term extension proceeding under 37 CFR 1.182 to requests for staying action in patent applications and for deferring issuance of a patent filed under 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314, respectively. The standard for granting requests under both 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314 is good and sufficient cause. When the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a) and (b) has lapsed, or will lapse, for any patent(s) for which extension has been sought during any stay to be granted, the patent owner needs to show that justice requires the stay so requested. Therefore, the applicant seeking a stay in the processing of the extension application should provide detailed reasons why a stay is necessary. See, e.g., the petition for stay granted in U.S. Patent No. 8,829,165 and contrast with the petition for stay that was denied-in-part in U.S. Patent No. 5,196,404.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.182Patent Term ExtensionPatent TermNotice of Expiration

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Notice of Expiration
Patent Term Extension
35 U.S.C. § 154(a)
Notice of Expiration
Patent Term Extension
35 U.S.C. § 156(e)(1)
Notice of Expiration
Patent Term Extension
37 CFR § 1.103
Notice of Expiration
Patent Term Extension
37 CFR § 1.182
Notice of Expiration
Patent Term Extension
37 CFR § 1.314

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