MPEP § 1214.03 — Rehearing (Annotated Rules)

§1214.03 Rehearing

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1214.03, 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.

Rehearing

This section addresses Rehearing. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 6(b), 37 CFR 41.52, and 37 CFR 41.52(a). Contains: 1 guidance statement, 2 permissions, and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Request for Rehearing

2 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-1214-03-125a58cdcbe2054338089658]
Rehearing Must Specify Misapprehended Points
Note:
A request for rehearing must clearly state the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in the Board’s decision.

37 CFR 41.52 provides that any request for rehearing must specifically state the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in the Board’s decision. Experience has shown that many requests for rehearing are nothing more than reargument of appellant’s position on appeal. In response, the rule was revised to limit requests to the points of law or fact which appellant feels were overlooked or misapprehended by the Board. Arguments not raised in the briefs before the Board and evidence not previously relied upon in the brief and any reply brief(s) are not permitted in the request for rehearing except appellant may present (A) new argument(s) based upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, (B) new argument(s) responding to a new ground of rejection made pursuant to 37 CFR 41.50(b), and (C) new argument(s) that the Board’s decision contains an undesignated new ground of rejection. If appellant relies upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, a remand by the Board to the examiner to respond to that new argument may be appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 41.52Request for RehearingBoard Decision TypesPTAB Jurisdiction
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1214-03-e3f7dc03f95c512004619360]
Rehearing Requests Must Focus on Misapprehended Points
Note:
Requests for rehearing must focus on points of law or fact that were overlooked or misapprehended by the Board, not reargument of appellant’s position.

37 CFR 41.52 provides that any request for rehearing must specifically state the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in the Board’s decision. Experience has shown that many requests for rehearing are nothing more than reargument of appellant’s position on appeal. In response, the rule was revised to limit requests to the points of law or fact which appellant feels were overlooked or misapprehended by the Board. Arguments not raised in the briefs before the Board and evidence not previously relied upon in the brief and any reply brief(s) are not permitted in the request for rehearing except appellant may present (A) new argument(s) based upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, (B) new argument(s) responding to a new ground of rejection made pursuant to 37 CFR 41.50(b), and (C) new argument(s) that the Board’s decision contains an undesignated new ground of rejection. If appellant relies upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, a remand by the Board to the examiner to respond to that new argument may be appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 41.52Request for RehearingEx Parte Appeals to PTABNew Ground of Rejection by Board
Topic

PTAB Jurisdiction

2 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1214-03-def2ef9d7695627d60df9100]
Limitations on Request for Rehearing
Note:
The rule limits requests for rehearing to points of law or fact appellant feels were overlooked or misapprehended by the Board.

37 CFR 41.52 provides that any request for rehearing must specifically state the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in the Board’s decision. Experience has shown that many requests for rehearing are nothing more than reargument of appellant’s position on appeal. In response, the rule was revised to limit requests to the points of law or fact which appellant feels were overlooked or misapprehended by the Board. Arguments not raised in the briefs before the Board and evidence not previously relied upon in the brief and any reply brief(s) are not permitted in the request for rehearing except appellant may present (A) new argument(s) based upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, (B) new argument(s) responding to a new ground of rejection made pursuant to 37 CFR 41.50(b), and (C) new argument(s) that the Board’s decision contains an undesignated new ground of rejection. If appellant relies upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, a remand by the Board to the examiner to respond to that new argument may be appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 41.52PTAB JurisdictionEx Parte Appeals to PTABPTAB Contested Case Procedures
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-1214-03-b32448ce6bb99929a56220c6]
Request for Rehearing During Appeal Period
Note:
An applicant may file a request for rehearing within the 63-day period after a decision on a rehearing request, allowing time to appeal.

If a timely request for rehearing of the Board’s decision is filed, the time for filing a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or for commencing a civil action expires 63 days after a decision on a request for rehearing or reconsideration (37 CFR 90.3(b)(1)). An applicant may file a RCE during the 63 day period available to appeal after decision on the rehearing request. See MPEP § 706.07(h), subsection XI.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 90.3(b)(1))PTAB JurisdictionEx Parte Appeals to PTABNotice of Appeal Filing
Topic

Ex Parte Reexamination

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1214-03-5ad70f8e199bdcc4deac9abd]
Extensions of Time Not Applicable for Rehearing
Note:
Extensions of time under §1.136(a) are not applicable to the rehearing period; see §1.136(b) and §1.550(c) for other extension requirements.

(b) Extensions of time under § 1.136(a) of this title for patent applications are not applicable to the time period set forth in this section. See § 1.136(b) of this title for extensions of time to reply for patent applications and § 1.550(c) of this title for extensions of time to reply for ex parte reexamination proceedings.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.136(a)Ex Parte Reexamination
Topic

Oral Hearing

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1214-03-6725852eabcdd005421df39a]
Rehearing Only Reviews Written Record
Note:
An appellant is not entitled to an oral hearing on a request for rehearing but only a review of the written record. The Board does not normally grant rehearings in the sense of another oral hearing.

The term “rehearing” is used in 37 CFR 41.52 for consistency with the language of 35 U.S.C. 6(b). It should not be interpreted as meaning that an appellant is entitled to an oral hearing on the request for rehearing, but only to a rehearing on the written record. It is not the normal practice of the Board to grant rehearings in the sense of another oral hearing. Ex parte Argoudelis, 157 USPQ 437, 441 (Bd. App. 1967), rev’d. on other grounds, 434 F.2d 1390, 168 USPQ 99 (CCPA 1970).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 41.52Oral HearingPTAB JurisdictionEx Parte Appeals to PTAB
Topic

New Ground of Rejection by Board

1 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-1214-03-4ad8d1caf97a60d8c5972c94]
New Grounds of Rejection Not Permitted in Request for Rehearing Except Under Specific Conditions
Note:
Appellant may present new arguments based on recent decisions, respond to new rejections, or identify undesignated rejections but not introduce new evidence or arguments not previously raised.

37 CFR 41.52 provides that any request for rehearing must specifically state the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in the Board’s decision. Experience has shown that many requests for rehearing are nothing more than reargument of appellant’s position on appeal. In response, the rule was revised to limit requests to the points of law or fact which appellant feels were overlooked or misapprehended by the Board. Arguments not raised in the briefs before the Board and evidence not previously relied upon in the brief and any reply brief(s) are not permitted in the request for rehearing except appellant may present (A) new argument(s) based upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, (B) new argument(s) responding to a new ground of rejection made pursuant to 37 CFR 41.50(b), and (C) new argument(s) that the Board’s decision contains an undesignated new ground of rejection. If appellant relies upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, a remand by the Board to the examiner to respond to that new argument may be appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 41.52New Ground of Rejection by BoardRequest for RehearingBoard Decision Types
Topic

Board Decision Types

1 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-1214-03-ec42f32328e81f1e2bd94993]
Remand to Examiner on New Argument Based on Recent Decision
Note:
If an appellant relies on a recent relevant decision from the Board or Federal Court, the Board may remand the case to the examiner to address this new argument.

37 CFR 41.52 provides that any request for rehearing must specifically state the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in the Board’s decision. Experience has shown that many requests for rehearing are nothing more than reargument of appellant’s position on appeal. In response, the rule was revised to limit requests to the points of law or fact which appellant feels were overlooked or misapprehended by the Board. Arguments not raised in the briefs before the Board and evidence not previously relied upon in the brief and any reply brief(s) are not permitted in the request for rehearing except appellant may present (A) new argument(s) based upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, (B) new argument(s) responding to a new ground of rejection made pursuant to 37 CFR 41.50(b), and (C) new argument(s) that the Board’s decision contains an undesignated new ground of rejection. If appellant relies upon a recent relevant decision of either the Board or a Federal Court, a remand by the Board to the examiner to respond to that new argument may be appropriate.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 41.52Board Decision TypesPTAB JurisdictionEx Parte Appeals to PTAB
Topic

Appeals in Reexamination

1 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-1214-03-f03d052c26ee0b3ac3a39a6e]
Rehearing Request Only Extends for Ex Parte Reexamination Appeals
Note:
The 2-month period for filing a request for rehearing can only be extended if the appeal involves an ex parte reexamination proceeding, under specific provisions.

The 2-month period provided by 37 CFR 41.52(a) for filing a request for rehearing can only be extended under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(b) or under 37 CFR 1.550(c) if the appeal involves an ex parte reexamination proceeding.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 41.52(a)Appeals in ReexaminationEx Parte ReexaminationEx Parte Appeals to PTAB
Topic

Notice of Appeal Filing

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1214-03-e86ecaca2e86b6c378fbc42c]
Time for Appeal After Rehearing
Note:
The time to file an appeal or commence a civil action expires 63 days after the Board’s decision on a rehearing request if a timely rehearing is filed.

If a timely request for rehearing of the Board’s decision is filed, the time for filing a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or for commencing a civil action expires 63 days after a decision on a request for rehearing or reconsideration (37 CFR 90.3(b)(1)). An applicant may file a RCE during the 63 day period available to appeal after decision on the rehearing request. See MPEP § 706.07(h), subsection XI.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 90.3(b)(1))Notice of Appeal FilingTime for Judicial AppealCivil Action
Topic

Civil Action

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1214-03-4c57878658d4a1c8d68eb1ff]
Extension of Time for Appeal or Civil Action
Note:
Provides guidance on extending time to appeal to the Federal Circuit or commence a civil action under 37 CFR 90.3(c).

For extension of time to appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or commence a civil action under 37 CFR 90.3(c), see MPEP § 1216 and § 1002.02(o).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 90.3(c)Civil ActionAppeal to Federal CircuitJudicial Review of Board Decisions

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Oral Hearing35 U.S.C. § 6(b)
Ex Parte Reexamination37 CFR § 1.136(a)
Appeals in Reexamination
Ex Parte Reexamination
37 CFR § 1.136(b)
Appeals in Reexamination
Ex Parte Reexamination
37 CFR § 1.550(c)
Civil Action37 CFR § 1002.02(o)
Board Decision Types
New Ground of Rejection by Board
PTAB Jurisdiction
Request for Rehearing
37 CFR § 41.50(b)
Board Decision Types
New Ground of Rejection by Board
Oral Hearing
PTAB Jurisdiction
Request for Rehearing
37 CFR § 41.52
Appeals in Reexamination37 CFR § 41.52(a)
Notice of Appeal Filing
PTAB Jurisdiction
37 CFR § 90.3(b)(1)
Civil Action37 CFR § 90.3(c)
MPEP § 1214.04
Civil ActionMPEP § 1216
Notice of Appeal Filing
PTAB Jurisdiction
MPEP § 706.07(h)

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