MPEP § 714.05 — Examiner Should Immediately Review (Annotated Rules)

§714.05 Examiner Should Immediately Review

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 714.05, 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 Should Immediately Review

This section addresses Examiner Should Immediately Review. Contains: 5 guidance statements, 1 permission, and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Period for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)

3 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-714-05-7c6f84c3a7911a6641af5ac8]
Supplemental Action for Late Amended Claims
Note:
A supplemental action is required when amended claims are filed before the regular action date but received later by the Technology Center. It should specify which portions of the previous action to disregard and set a new reply period.

A supplemental action may be necessary when an amendment is filed on or before the mailing date of the regular action but reaches the Technology Center later. The supplemental action should be promptly prepared. It need not reiterate all portions of the previous action that are still applicable but it should specify which portions are to be disregarded, pointing out that the period for reply runs from the mailing of the supplemental action. The action should be headed “Responsive to amendment of (date) and supplemental to the action mailed (date).”

Jump to MPEP SourcePeriod for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-05-1637adce354c90a5cc23c4ac]
Supplemental Action Must Specify Disregarded Portions
Note:
The supplemental action should specify which parts of the previous action are disregarded and indicate that the period for reply runs from its mailing date.

A supplemental action may be necessary when an amendment is filed on or before the mailing date of the regular action but reaches the Technology Center later. The supplemental action should be promptly prepared. It need not reiterate all portions of the previous action that are still applicable but it should specify which portions are to be disregarded, pointing out that the period for reply runs from the mailing of the supplemental action. The action should be headed “Responsive to amendment of (date) and supplemental to the action mailed (date).”

Jump to MPEP SourcePeriod for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-05-076de0b7d9c7b1d281fae81c]
Supplemental Action for Late Amendments
Note:
A supplemental action is required when amendments are filed but reach the Technology Center after the mailing date of the regular action. It specifies which portions of the previous action to disregard and sets a new reply period.

A supplemental action may be necessary when an amendment is filed on or before the mailing date of the regular action but reaches the Technology Center later. The supplemental action should be promptly prepared. It need not reiterate all portions of the previous action that are still applicable but it should specify which portions are to be disregarded, pointing out that the period for reply runs from the mailing of the supplemental action. The action should be headed “Responsive to amendment of (date) and supplemental to the action mailed (date).”

Jump to MPEP SourcePeriod for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
Topic

Shortened Statutory Period

2 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-05-dea1240995054f1b09bb1cbd]
Examiner Should Immediately Review Amended Applications
Note:
The examiner must review all amended applications promptly to ensure they meet specific requirements including proper signing, timely filing, responsiveness, and compliance with other statutory provisions.
All amended applications forwarded to the examiner should be reviewed at once to determine the following:
Jump to MPEP SourceShortened Statutory PeriodStatutory Period Computation (37 CFR 1.134)Period for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-714-05-caa4ea1125e653264459969d]
Examiner Must Review Amended Applications Immediately
Note:
The examiner must review all amended applications promptly to determine if the amendment was filed within the statutory period or a shortened statutory period.

All amended applications forwarded to the examiner should be reviewed at once to determine the following:

(B) If the amendment has been filed within the statutory period, set shortened statutory period, or time limit (MPEP § 710§ 710.05)

Jump to MPEP SourceShortened Statutory PeriodStatutory Period Computation (37 CFR 1.134)Period for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)
Topic

Reply Period and Extensions

1 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-05-ae49a9170cd2ea219042e7c7]
Examiner Should Review Actions Near Reply Deadline Promptly
Note:
The examiner should review applicant actions, especially those near the reply deadline, promptly to ensure they are responsive to the previous Office action and prevent application abandonment.

Actions by applicant, especially those filed near the end of the period for reply, should be reviewed as soon as possible upon becoming available to the examiner to determine whether they are completely responsive to the preceding Office action so as to prevent abandonment of the application. If found inadequate, and sufficient time remains, applicant should be notified of the deficiencies and warned to complete the reply within the period. See MPEP § 714.03.

Jump to MPEP SourceReply Period and ExtensionsTypes of Office ActionsResponse to Office Action Requirements (37 CFR 1.111)
Topic

Response to Office Action Requirements (37 CFR 1.111)

1 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-714-05-436c2e66b7303be142d349ce]
Notifying Applicant of Inadequate Response
Note:
If an applicant's response is found inadequate and time remains, the examiner must notify the applicant of the deficiencies and warn them to complete the reply within the period.

Actions by applicant, especially those filed near the end of the period for reply, should be reviewed as soon as possible upon becoming available to the examiner to determine whether they are completely responsive to the preceding Office action so as to prevent abandonment of the application. If found inadequate, and sufficient time remains, applicant should be notified of the deficiencies and warned to complete the reply within the period. See MPEP § 714.03.

Jump to MPEP SourceResponse to Office Action Requirements (37 CFR 1.111)Office Actions and ResponsesReply Period and Extensions
Topic

Signature Requirements

1 rules
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-714-05-544991762c4f5e56a61d906e]
Amendment Must Be Properly Signed
Note:
All amended applications forwarded to the examiner must have proper signatures as per MPEP § 714.01(a).

All amended applications forwarded to the examiner should be reviewed at once to determine the following (A) If the amendment is properly signed (MPEP § 714.01(a)).

Jump to MPEP SourceSignature Requirements

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Shortened Statutory Period35 U.S.C. § 1490
Shortened Statutory Period37 CFR § 1.121
Shortened Statutory Period37 CFR § 1302.12
Shortened Statutory Period37 CFR § 710.05
Shortened Statutory Period37 CFR § 714.04
Shortened Statutory Period37 CFR § 804.03
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 115
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 707.05(b)
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 708.01
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 710
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 714
Shortened Statutory Period
Signature Requirements
MPEP § 714.01(a)
Reply Period and Extensions
Response to Office Action Requirements (37 CFR 1.111)
Shortened Statutory Period
MPEP § 714.03
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 804.02
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 818.01(a)
Shortened Statutory PeriodMPEP § 909.01(c)

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