MPEP § 2261 — Special Status for Action (Annotated Rules)
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2261, 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.
Special Status for Action
This section addresses Special Status for Action.
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.
Official MPEP § 2261 — Special Status for Action
Source: USPTO2261 Special Status for Action [R-07.2015]
35 U.S.C. 305 Conduct of reexamination proceedings.
*****
All reexamination proceedings under this section, including any appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, will be conducted with special dispatch within the Office.
In view of the requirement for “special dispatch,” reexamination proceedings will be “special” throughout their pendency in the Office.
Any cases involved in litigation, whether they are reexamination proceedings or reissue applications, will have priority over all other cases. Reexamination proceedings not involved in litigation will have priority over all other cases except reexaminations or reissues involved in litigation.