MPEP § 1906 — Supervisory Review of an Examiner’s Decision Adverse to Protestor (Annotated Rules)

§1906 Supervisory Review of an Examiner’s Decision Adverse to Protestor

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1906, 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.

Supervisory Review of an Examiner’s Decision Adverse to Protestor

This section addresses Supervisory Review of an Examiner’s Decision Adverse to Protestor. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.291(d). Contains: 1 prohibition and 1 permission.

Key Rules

Topic

Examiner Action on Protest

2 rules
StatutoryProhibitedAlways
[mpep-1906-224dfd2ef646b6f97b1a09bb]
Protestor Cannot Appeal Adverse Examiner Decision
Note:
A protestor cannot challenge an examiner's adverse decision through the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, making it final.

As pointed out in MPEP § 1901.07, a protestor cannot appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board from an adverse decision of the examiner. Further, a decision by the examiner adverse to a protestor is final, and under the restricted protestor participation permitted under 37 CFR 1.291(d) is not petitionable to the Director.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.291(d)Examiner Action on ProtestProtestor LimitationsProtest Handling Procedure
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-1906-4113f3f7722a22f3d388eabe]
Examiner Adverse Decision Final and Non-Petitionable
Note:
An examiner's adverse decision to a protestor is final and cannot be appealed to the Director under restricted protestor participation rules.

As pointed out in MPEP § 1901.07, a protestor cannot appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board from an adverse decision of the examiner. Further, a decision by the examiner adverse to a protestor is final, and under the restricted protestor participation permitted under 37 CFR 1.291(d) is not petitionable to the Director.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.291(d)Examiner Action on ProtestProtest Handling ProcedureEstoppel After Judgment

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Examiner Action on Protest37 CFR § 1.291(d)
Examiner Action on ProtestMPEP § 1901.07

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