MPEP § 2762.01 — Duty of Disclosure When a Terminal Disclaimer is Filed During Patent Term Extension Proceedings (Annotated Rules)

§2762.01 Duty of Disclosure When a Terminal Disclaimer is Filed During Patent Term Extension Proceedings

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2762.01, 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.

Duty of Disclosure When a Terminal Disclaimer is Filed During Patent Term Extension Proceedings

This section addresses Duty of Disclosure When a Terminal Disclaimer is Filed During Patent Term Extension Proceedings. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.765 and 37 CFR 1.321. Contains: 1 requirement, 1 guidance statement, 2 permissions, and 3 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Effect of Terminal Disclaimer on Term

3 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2762-01-8418e155a33acae4a6b36c16]
Terminal Disclaimer to Preempt Nonstatutory Double Patenting Defense
Note:
Patent owner must file a terminal disclaimer if the patent basis for nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired during infringement litigation.

It is possible that during the processing of a patent term extension, the patent owner becomes aware of situations where the filing of a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired. For example, if patent infringement litigation has commenced and the accused infringer advances that the patent is invalid on the basis of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting, then the patent owner might choose to file a terminal disclaimer to preempt the defense if the patent that is the basis for the nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired. Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 592 F.3d 1340, 93 USPQ2d 1417, 1422-23 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When a terminal disclaimer is filed for a patent during the processing of an application for patent term extension, any required updates to information already of record should be made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.765. For example, if the calculation of term changes because the patent’s expiration date changes, then an updated calculation of the term should be submitted for the application for patent term extension via the USPTO patent electronic filing system. Patent owners can use the USPTO terminal disclaimer forms (e.g., forms PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) available at www.uspto.gov. Alternatively, patent owners can draft and file a self-prepared terminal disclaimer that meets the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321. See MPEP § 1490.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.765Effect of Terminal Disclaimer on TermPatent Term ExpirationLate Payment and Reinstatement
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2762-01-918e16b20e64bdea3666b85a]
Patent Owners Can Use USPTO Terminal Disclaimers
Note:
Patent owners can use pre-approved forms from the USPTO (e.g., PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) to file terminal disclaimers during patent term extension proceedings.

It is possible that during the processing of a patent term extension, the patent owner becomes aware of situations where the filing of a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired. For example, if patent infringement litigation has commenced and the accused infringer advances that the patent is invalid on the basis of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting, then the patent owner might choose to file a terminal disclaimer to preempt the defense if the patent that is the basis for the nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired. Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 592 F.3d 1340, 93 USPQ2d 1417, 1422-23 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When a terminal disclaimer is filed for a patent during the processing of an application for patent term extension, any required updates to information already of record should be made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.765. For example, if the calculation of term changes because the patent’s expiration date changes, then an updated calculation of the term should be submitted for the application for patent term extension via the USPTO patent electronic filing system. Patent owners can use the USPTO terminal disclaimer forms (e.g., forms PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) available at www.uspto.gov. Alternatively, patent owners can draft and file a self-prepared terminal disclaimer that meets the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321. See MPEP § 1490.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.765Effect of Terminal Disclaimer on TermDuty of Disclosure in PTEDuty of Disclosure Fundamentals
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2762-01-1a8900a57f9d12b40a5271ca]
Patent Owners Can Draft Self-Prepared Terminal Disclaimers
Note:
Patent owners can file their own terminal disclaimers that meet the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321 during patent term extension proceedings.

It is possible that during the processing of a patent term extension, the patent owner becomes aware of situations where the filing of a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired. For example, if patent infringement litigation has commenced and the accused infringer advances that the patent is invalid on the basis of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting, then the patent owner might choose to file a terminal disclaimer to preempt the defense if the patent that is the basis for the nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired. Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 592 F.3d 1340, 93 USPQ2d 1417, 1422-23 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When a terminal disclaimer is filed for a patent during the processing of an application for patent term extension, any required updates to information already of record should be made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.765. For example, if the calculation of term changes because the patent’s expiration date changes, then an updated calculation of the term should be submitted for the application for patent term extension via the USPTO patent electronic filing system. Patent owners can use the USPTO terminal disclaimer forms (e.g., forms PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) available at www.uspto.gov. Alternatively, patent owners can draft and file a self-prepared terminal disclaimer that meets the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321. See MPEP § 1490.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.765Effect of Terminal Disclaimer on TermDuty of Disclosure in PTEDuty of Disclosure Fundamentals
Topic

Duty of Disclosure in PTE

2 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2762-01-f8db79c0836a5d6e2e8c17f8]
Requirement for Updating Term Extension Calculation When Terminal Disclaimer Filed
Note:
When a terminal disclaimer is filed during patent term extension proceedings, the patent owner must update any required changes to the term extension calculation.

It is possible that during the processing of a patent term extension, the patent owner becomes aware of situations where the filing of a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired. For example, if patent infringement litigation has commenced and the accused infringer advances that the patent is invalid on the basis of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting, then the patent owner might choose to file a terminal disclaimer to preempt the defense if the patent that is the basis for the nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired. Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 592 F.3d 1340, 93 USPQ2d 1417, 1422-23 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When a terminal disclaimer is filed for a patent during the processing of an application for patent term extension, any required updates to information already of record should be made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.765. For example, if the calculation of term changes because the patent’s expiration date changes, then an updated calculation of the term should be submitted for the application for patent term extension via the USPTO patent electronic filing system. Patent owners can use the USPTO terminal disclaimer forms (e.g., forms PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) available at www.uspto.gov. Alternatively, patent owners can draft and file a self-prepared terminal disclaimer that meets the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321. See MPEP § 1490.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.765Duty of Disclosure in PTEDuty of Disclosure FundamentalsDuty of Disclosure
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2762-01-2b9fda832f107524b98d6ac8]
Updates Required for Terminal Disclaimers During PTE Processing
Note:
When filing a terminal disclaimer during patent term extension processing, any required updates to information already of record must be made according to 37 CFR 1.765.

It is possible that during the processing of a patent term extension, the patent owner becomes aware of situations where the filing of a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired. For example, if patent infringement litigation has commenced and the accused infringer advances that the patent is invalid on the basis of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting, then the patent owner might choose to file a terminal disclaimer to preempt the defense if the patent that is the basis for the nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired. Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 592 F.3d 1340, 93 USPQ2d 1417, 1422-23 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When a terminal disclaimer is filed for a patent during the processing of an application for patent term extension, any required updates to information already of record should be made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.765. For example, if the calculation of term changes because the patent’s expiration date changes, then an updated calculation of the term should be submitted for the application for patent term extension via the USPTO patent electronic filing system. Patent owners can use the USPTO terminal disclaimer forms (e.g., forms PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) available at www.uspto.gov. Alternatively, patent owners can draft and file a self-prepared terminal disclaimer that meets the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321. See MPEP § 1490.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.765Duty of Disclosure in PTEEffect of Terminal Disclaimer on TermIntervening Rights After Reinstatement
Topic

Scope of Duty

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2762-01-c43d4449a0208b74f45395f8]
Requirement for Terminal Disclaimer During Patent Term Extension
Note:
When filing a patent term extension, if the patent owner becomes aware of situations where a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired, they must file it to preempt nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting defenses.

It is possible that during the processing of a patent term extension, the patent owner becomes aware of situations where the filing of a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired. For example, if patent infringement litigation has commenced and the accused infringer advances that the patent is invalid on the basis of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting, then the patent owner might choose to file a terminal disclaimer to preempt the defense if the patent that is the basis for the nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired. Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 592 F.3d 1340, 93 USPQ2d 1417, 1422-23 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When a terminal disclaimer is filed for a patent during the processing of an application for patent term extension, any required updates to information already of record should be made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.765. For example, if the calculation of term changes because the patent’s expiration date changes, then an updated calculation of the term should be submitted for the application for patent term extension via the USPTO patent electronic filing system. Patent owners can use the USPTO terminal disclaimer forms (e.g., forms PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) available at www.uspto.gov. Alternatively, patent owners can draft and file a self-prepared terminal disclaimer that meets the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321. See MPEP § 1490.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.765Scope of DutyEffect of Terminal Disclaimer on TermPatent Term Extension
Topic

Determining Expiration Date

1 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2762-01-18fb24c88ecb2a26622608f7]
Update Term Calculation When Expiration Date Changes During Patent Term Extension
Note:
When the patent's expiration date changes during patent term extension processing, an updated term calculation must be submitted via the USPTO electronic filing system.

It is possible that during the processing of a patent term extension, the patent owner becomes aware of situations where the filing of a terminal disclaimer might be necessary or desired. For example, if patent infringement litigation has commenced and the accused infringer advances that the patent is invalid on the basis of nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting, then the patent owner might choose to file a terminal disclaimer to preempt the defense if the patent that is the basis for the nonstatutory obviousness type double patenting has not expired. Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 592 F.3d 1340, 93 USPQ2d 1417, 1422-23 (Fed. Cir. 2010). When a terminal disclaimer is filed for a patent during the processing of an application for patent term extension, any required updates to information already of record should be made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.765. For example, if the calculation of term changes because the patent’s expiration date changes, then an updated calculation of the term should be submitted for the application for patent term extension via the USPTO patent electronic filing system. Patent owners can use the USPTO terminal disclaimer forms (e.g., forms PTO/SB/25a or PTO/SB/26a) available at www.uspto.gov. Alternatively, patent owners can draft and file a self-prepared terminal disclaimer that meets the requirements of 37 CFR 1.321. See MPEP § 1490.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.765Determining Expiration DatePatent Term ExtensionPatent Term Expiration

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Determining Expiration Date
Duty of Disclosure in PTE
Effect of Terminal Disclaimer on Term
Scope of Duty
37 CFR § 1.321
Determining Expiration Date
Duty of Disclosure in PTE
Effect of Terminal Disclaimer on Term
Scope of Duty
37 CFR § 1.765
Determining Expiration Date
Duty of Disclosure in PTE
Effect of Terminal Disclaimer on Term
Scope of Duty
MPEP § 1490

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