MPEP § 714.17 — Amendment Filed After the Period for Reply Has Expired (Annotated Rules)

§714.17 Amendment Filed After the Period for Reply Has Expired

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 714.17, 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.

Amendment Filed After the Period for Reply Has Expired

This section addresses Amendment Filed After the Period for Reply Has Expired. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.136(a). Contains: 1 requirement and 1 prohibition.

Key Rules

Topic

Automatic Extension (1.136(a))

2 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-714-17-270c57cb65f8cd899c4a5c7c]
Amendment Without Extension Not Entered
Note:
An amendment filed without a petition for extension of time and fee cannot be entered and will not formally enter the application.

When an application is not prosecuted within the period set for reply and thereafter an amendment is filed without a petition for extension of time and fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a), such amendment shall be placed in the file of the application, but not formally entered. The technical support staff shall immediately notify the applicant, by telephone and letter, that the amendment was not filed within the time period and therefore cannot be entered and that the application is abandoned unless a petition for extension of time and the appropriate fee are timely filed. See MPEP § 711.02.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.136(a)Automatic Extension (1.136(a))Petition-Based Extension (1.136(b))Processing Fees
StatutoryProhibitedAlways
[mpep-714-17-0334201b7425832595ba7f77]
Notification Required for Untimely Amendment
Note:
Technical support staff must notify applicants of untimely amendments and inform them that the application will be abandoned unless a petition for extension of time and fee are filed promptly.

When an application is not prosecuted within the period set for reply and thereafter an amendment is filed without a petition for extension of time and fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a), such amendment shall be placed in the file of the application, but not formally entered. The technical support staff shall immediately notify the applicant, by telephone and letter, that the amendment was not filed within the time period and therefore cannot be entered and that the application is abandoned unless a petition for extension of time and the appropriate fee are timely filed. See MPEP § 711.02.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.136(a)Automatic Extension (1.136(a))Petition-Based Extension (1.136(b))Processing Fees
Topic

Extension of Time (37 CFR 1.136)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-714-17-6c6dad5d65ad01cf24204c3c]
Requirement for Extension of Reply Period
Note:
The rule requires that an extension of time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) must be filed within the prescribed period.

See MPEP § 710.02(e) for a discussion of the requirements of 37 CFR 1.136(a).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.136(a)Extension of Time (37 CFR 1.136)Late Payment and ReinstatementPeriod for Reply (37 CFR 1.134)

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Automatic Extension (1.136(a))
Extension of Time (37 CFR 1.136)
37 CFR § 1.136(a)
Extension of Time (37 CFR 1.136)MPEP § 710.02(e)
Automatic Extension (1.136(a))MPEP § 711.02

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