MPEP § 2312 — Board May Assume Jurisdiction (Annotated Rules)

§2312 Board May Assume Jurisdiction

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2312, 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.

Board May Assume Jurisdiction

This section addresses Board May Assume Jurisdiction. Contains: 3 permissions.

Key Rules

Topic

Reissue and Reexamination

2 rules
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2312-c02fd9a6899e505e03a2a0b9]
Board May Assume Jurisdiction Over Reissue and Reexamination
Note:
The Board can take jurisdiction over applications, reexaminations, reissues, and patents with derivation petitions.

The Board may assume jurisdiction of any application, including those involved in reexamination proceeding(s) or reissue application(s), or any issued patent in which a petition for derivation has been filed. In an application this jurisdictional assumption may occur at any time, including before the application is otherwise in condition for allowance. Where the Board has assumed jurisdiction of an application or proceeding involving an issued patent no action by the examiner may be taken until jurisdiction has been returned by the Board to the examiner.

Jump to MPEP SourceReissue and ReexaminationAppeals in ReexaminationPTAB Jurisdiction
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2312-c96f07b93824519ffc34b33d]
Jurisdiction May Be Assumed Any Time During Application
Note:
The Board can assume jurisdiction of an application at any stage, including before it is ready for allowance.

The Board may assume jurisdiction of any application, including those involved in reexamination proceeding(s) or reissue application(s), or any issued patent in which a petition for derivation has been filed. In an application this jurisdictional assumption may occur at any time, including before the application is otherwise in condition for allowance. Where the Board has assumed jurisdiction of an application or proceeding involving an issued patent no action by the examiner may be taken until jurisdiction has been returned by the Board to the examiner.

Jump to MPEP SourceReissue and ReexaminationAppeals in ReexaminationPTAB Jurisdiction
Topic

Appeals in Reexamination

1 rules
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2312-395910aa6deb4360b9f9ba23]
Board Must Return Jurisdiction Before Examiner Actions
Note:
The Board must return jurisdiction to the examiner before any action can be taken on an application involving an issued patent.

The Board may assume jurisdiction of any application, including those involved in reexamination proceeding(s) or reissue application(s), or any issued patent in which a petition for derivation has been filed. In an application this jurisdictional assumption may occur at any time, including before the application is otherwise in condition for allowance. Where the Board has assumed jurisdiction of an application or proceeding involving an issued patent no action by the examiner may be taken until jurisdiction has been returned by the Board to the examiner.

Jump to MPEP SourceAppeals in ReexaminationPTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case Procedures

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