MPEP § 1452 — Request for Continued Examination of Reissue Application (Annotated Rules)

§1452 Request for Continued Examination of Reissue Application

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1452, 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.

Request for Continued Examination of Reissue Application

This section addresses Request for Continued Examination of Reissue Application. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.114. Contains: 1 guidance statement, 1 permission, and 2 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

RCE Filing Requirements

2 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1452-53317c87e7259b3d84f28a61]
Request for Continued Examination of Reissue Application
Note:
Allows filing an RCE for reissuing a utility or plant patent filed on or after June 8, 1995, even if the original application was filed before that date.

A request for continued examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114 is available for a reissue application for reissue of a utility or plant patent filed on or after June 8, 1995. This applies even where the application, which resulted in the original patent, was filed before June 8, 1995.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.114RCE Filing RequirementsRCE vs Continuation ApplicationStatutory Authority for Examination
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1452-fde79e1a735f153ceb90565f]
RCE Continues Existing Reissue Application
Note:
An RCE continues the prosecution of an existing reissue application and does not dissolve a merger with a reexamination proceeding.

An RCE continues the prosecution of the existing reissue application and is not a filing of a new reissue application. Thus, the filing of an RCE will not be announced in the Official Gazette. Additionally, if a reissue application is merged with a reexamination proceeding (see MPEP § 1449.01), the filing of an RCE will not dissolve the merger, because the reissue application does not become abandoned. The Office, however, may choose to dissolve the merger based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case, e.g., to promote the statutorily mandated requirement for special dispatch in reexamination. Applicants should refer to the merger decision for guidance because it governs for that application.

Jump to MPEP SourceRCE Filing RequirementsRCE vs Continuation ApplicationReissue and Reexamination
Topic

Reissue and Reexamination

1 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-1452-3ce0a274f9a7935dc8d9ac49]
Merger Can Be Dissolved Based on Case Facts During Reissue and Reexamination
Note:
The Office may dissolve a merger between reissue and reexamination proceedings based on individual case circumstances, particularly to meet statutory requirements for special dispatch in reexamination.

An RCE continues the prosecution of the existing reissue application and is not a filing of a new reissue application. Thus, the filing of an RCE will not be announced in the Official Gazette. Additionally, if a reissue application is merged with a reexamination proceeding (see MPEP § 1449.01), the filing of an RCE will not dissolve the merger, because the reissue application does not become abandoned. The Office, however, may choose to dissolve the merger based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case, e.g., to promote the statutorily mandated requirement for special dispatch in reexamination. Applicants should refer to the merger decision for guidance because it governs for that application.

Jump to MPEP SourceReissue and ReexaminationConcurrent Reissue ProceedingsStatutory Authority for Examination
Topic

Statutory Authority for Examination

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1452-d67065c5902b0638adcb2445]
Refer to Merger Decision for Application
Note:
Applicants should consult the merger decision as it governs their reissue application when an RCE is filed.

An RCE continues the prosecution of the existing reissue application and is not a filing of a new reissue application. Thus, the filing of an RCE will not be announced in the Official Gazette. Additionally, if a reissue application is merged with a reexamination proceeding (see MPEP § 1449.01), the filing of an RCE will not dissolve the merger, because the reissue application does not become abandoned. The Office, however, may choose to dissolve the merger based on the individual facts and circumstances of the case, e.g., to promote the statutorily mandated requirement for special dispatch in reexamination. Applicants should refer to the merger decision for guidance because it governs for that application.

Jump to MPEP SourceStatutory Authority for ExaminationRequest for Continued ExaminationExamination Procedures

Citations

Primary topicCitation
RCE Filing Requirements37 CFR § 1.114
RCE Filing Requirements
Reissue and Reexamination
Statutory Authority for Examination
MPEP § 1449.01

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