Patent Law FAQ

If the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) doesn’t receive your priority document through the Priority Document Exchange (PDX) program within the specified time frame, you have options. According to MPEP 215.02(a):

The Office appreciates that an applicant may discover that the Office will not receive a copy of a foreign application through the priority document exchange program until after the expiration of the time frame specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f). In this situation, an applicant who otherwise meets the conditions of 37 CFR 1.55(i) may satisfy the requirement of 37 CFR 1.55(i)(3) by filing a certified copy of the foreign application in the Office within the pendency of the application and before the patent is granted.

If you find yourself in this situation:

1. File a certified copy of the foreign application directly with the USPTO.
2. Ensure this is done during the pendency of your application and before the patent is granted.
3. Consider filing a petition under 37 CFR 1.55(e) or (f) if necessary.

Remember, it’s ultimately the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the priority document is properly filed, even when using the PDX program.

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign application, visit: foreign application.

For more information on late submission, visit: late submission.

For more information on PDX, visit: PDX.

For more information on priority document exchange, visit: priority document exchange.

For applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after March 16, 2013, 37 CFR 1.55(f)(1) sets the time limit for filing a certified copy of the foreign application. The certified copy must be filed within the later of:

• Four months from the actual filing date of the application, or
• Sixteen months from the filing date of the prior foreign application

This time limit does not apply to design applications. For international applications entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371, the time limit is set forth in 37 CFR 1.55(f)(2).

It’s important to note that there are exceptions to these time limits, as provided in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j).

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign priority, visit: foreign priority.

For more information on time limit, visit: time limit.

What happens if a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f)?

If a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f), the USPTO will send a Notice of Allowance and Issue Fee Due (Notice of Allowance) with a requirement for the certified copy. As stated in the MPEP:

‘If a certified copy of the foreign application is not filed within the time period specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f) and the exceptions in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j) are not applicable, the certified copy of the foreign application must be accompanied by a petition including a showing of good and sufficient cause for the delay and the petition fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(g).’

This means that if you miss the deadline, you’ll need to file a petition explaining the delay and pay an additional fee. It’s crucial to submit the certified copy or ensure it’s retrievable through the priority document exchange program to avoid complications in the patent application process.

For applications filed before March 16, 2013, the certified copy of the foreign application must be filed within the pendency of the application. According to 37 CFR 1.55(g)(1):

The claim for priority and the certified copy of the foreign application specified in 35 U.S.C. 119(b) or PCT Rule 17 must, in any event, be filed within the pendency of the application, unless filed with a petition under paragraph (e) or (f) of this section, or with a petition accompanied by the fee set forth in § 1.17(g) which includes a showing of good and sufficient cause for the delay in filing the certified copy of the foreign application in a design application.

However, it’s important to note that if the claim for priority or the certified copy is filed after the issue fee is paid, the patent will not include the priority claim unless corrected by a certificate of correction.

To learn more:

• foreign priority
• certified copy
• filing deadline
• patent application

If the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) doesn’t receive your priority document through the Priority Document Exchange (PDX) program within the specified time frame, you have options. According to MPEP 215.02(a):

The Office appreciates that an applicant may discover that the Office will not receive a copy of a foreign application through the priority document exchange program until after the expiration of the time frame specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f). In this situation, an applicant who otherwise meets the conditions of 37 CFR 1.55(i) may satisfy the requirement of 37 CFR 1.55(i)(3) by filing a certified copy of the foreign application in the Office within the pendency of the application and before the patent is granted.

If you find yourself in this situation:

1. File a certified copy of the foreign application directly with the USPTO.
2. Ensure this is done during the pendency of your application and before the patent is granted.
3. Consider filing a petition under 37 CFR 1.55(e) or (f) if necessary.

Remember, it’s ultimately the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the priority document is properly filed, even when using the PDX program.

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign application, visit: foreign application.

For more information on late submission, visit: late submission.

For more information on PDX, visit: PDX.

For more information on priority document exchange, visit: priority document exchange.

For applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after March 16, 2013, 37 CFR 1.55(f)(1) sets the time limit for filing a certified copy of the foreign application. The certified copy must be filed within the later of:

• Four months from the actual filing date of the application, or
• Sixteen months from the filing date of the prior foreign application

This time limit does not apply to design applications. For international applications entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371, the time limit is set forth in 37 CFR 1.55(f)(2).

It’s important to note that there are exceptions to these time limits, as provided in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j).

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign priority, visit: foreign priority.

For more information on time limit, visit: time limit.

What happens if a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f)?

If a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f), the USPTO will send a Notice of Allowance and Issue Fee Due (Notice of Allowance) with a requirement for the certified copy. As stated in the MPEP:

‘If a certified copy of the foreign application is not filed within the time period specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f) and the exceptions in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j) are not applicable, the certified copy of the foreign application must be accompanied by a petition including a showing of good and sufficient cause for the delay and the petition fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(g).’

This means that if you miss the deadline, you’ll need to file a petition explaining the delay and pay an additional fee. It’s crucial to submit the certified copy or ensure it’s retrievable through the priority document exchange program to avoid complications in the patent application process.

If the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) doesn’t receive your priority document through the Priority Document Exchange (PDX) program within the specified time frame, you have options. According to MPEP 215.02(a):

The Office appreciates that an applicant may discover that the Office will not receive a copy of a foreign application through the priority document exchange program until after the expiration of the time frame specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f). In this situation, an applicant who otherwise meets the conditions of 37 CFR 1.55(i) may satisfy the requirement of 37 CFR 1.55(i)(3) by filing a certified copy of the foreign application in the Office within the pendency of the application and before the patent is granted.

If you find yourself in this situation:

1. File a certified copy of the foreign application directly with the USPTO.
2. Ensure this is done during the pendency of your application and before the patent is granted.
3. Consider filing a petition under 37 CFR 1.55(e) or (f) if necessary.

Remember, it’s ultimately the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the priority document is properly filed, even when using the PDX program.

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign application, visit: foreign application.

For more information on late submission, visit: late submission.

For more information on PDX, visit: PDX.

For more information on priority document exchange, visit: priority document exchange.

For applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after March 16, 2013, 37 CFR 1.55(f)(1) sets the time limit for filing a certified copy of the foreign application. The certified copy must be filed within the later of:

• Four months from the actual filing date of the application, or
• Sixteen months from the filing date of the prior foreign application

This time limit does not apply to design applications. For international applications entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371, the time limit is set forth in 37 CFR 1.55(f)(2).

It’s important to note that there are exceptions to these time limits, as provided in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j).

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign priority, visit: foreign priority.

For more information on time limit, visit: time limit.

What happens if a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f)?

If a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f), the USPTO will send a Notice of Allowance and Issue Fee Due (Notice of Allowance) with a requirement for the certified copy. As stated in the MPEP:

‘If a certified copy of the foreign application is not filed within the time period specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f) and the exceptions in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j) are not applicable, the certified copy of the foreign application must be accompanied by a petition including a showing of good and sufficient cause for the delay and the petition fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(g).’

This means that if you miss the deadline, you’ll need to file a petition explaining the delay and pay an additional fee. It’s crucial to submit the certified copy or ensure it’s retrievable through the priority document exchange program to avoid complications in the patent application process.

For applications filed before March 16, 2013, the certified copy of the foreign application must be filed within the pendency of the application. According to 37 CFR 1.55(g)(1):

The claim for priority and the certified copy of the foreign application specified in 35 U.S.C. 119(b) or PCT Rule 17 must, in any event, be filed within the pendency of the application, unless filed with a petition under paragraph (e) or (f) of this section, or with a petition accompanied by the fee set forth in § 1.17(g) which includes a showing of good and sufficient cause for the delay in filing the certified copy of the foreign application in a design application.

However, it’s important to note that if the claim for priority or the certified copy is filed after the issue fee is paid, the patent will not include the priority claim unless corrected by a certificate of correction.

To learn more:

• foreign priority
• certified copy
• filing deadline
• patent application

If the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) doesn’t receive your priority document through the Priority Document Exchange (PDX) program within the specified time frame, you have options. According to MPEP 215.02(a):

The Office appreciates that an applicant may discover that the Office will not receive a copy of a foreign application through the priority document exchange program until after the expiration of the time frame specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f). In this situation, an applicant who otherwise meets the conditions of 37 CFR 1.55(i) may satisfy the requirement of 37 CFR 1.55(i)(3) by filing a certified copy of the foreign application in the Office within the pendency of the application and before the patent is granted.

If you find yourself in this situation:

1. File a certified copy of the foreign application directly with the USPTO.
2. Ensure this is done during the pendency of your application and before the patent is granted.
3. Consider filing a petition under 37 CFR 1.55(e) or (f) if necessary.

Remember, it’s ultimately the applicant’s responsibility to ensure the priority document is properly filed, even when using the PDX program.

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign application, visit: foreign application.

For more information on late submission, visit: late submission.

For more information on PDX, visit: PDX.

For more information on priority document exchange, visit: priority document exchange.

For applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) on or after March 16, 2013, 37 CFR 1.55(f)(1) sets the time limit for filing a certified copy of the foreign application. The certified copy must be filed within the later of:

• Four months from the actual filing date of the application, or
• Sixteen months from the filing date of the prior foreign application

This time limit does not apply to design applications. For international applications entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371, the time limit is set forth in 37 CFR 1.55(f)(2).

It’s important to note that there are exceptions to these time limits, as provided in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j).

For more information on certified copy, visit: certified copy.

For more information on foreign priority, visit: foreign priority.

For more information on time limit, visit: time limit.

What happens if a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f)?

If a certified copy is not received within the time period set in 37 CFR 1.55(f), the USPTO will send a Notice of Allowance and Issue Fee Due (Notice of Allowance) with a requirement for the certified copy. As stated in the MPEP:

‘If a certified copy of the foreign application is not filed within the time period specified in 37 CFR 1.55(f) and the exceptions in 37 CFR 1.55(h), (i), and (j) are not applicable, the certified copy of the foreign application must be accompanied by a petition including a showing of good and sufficient cause for the delay and the petition fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(g).’

This means that if you miss the deadline, you’ll need to file a petition explaining the delay and pay an additional fee. It’s crucial to submit the certified copy or ensure it’s retrievable through the priority document exchange program to avoid complications in the patent application process.

For applications filed before March 16, 2013, the certified copy of the foreign application must be filed within the pendency of the application. According to 37 CFR 1.55(g)(1):

The claim for priority and the certified copy of the foreign application specified in 35 U.S.C. 119(b) or PCT Rule 17 must, in any event, be filed within the pendency of the application, unless filed with a petition under paragraph (e) or (f) of this section, or with a petition accompanied by the fee set forth in § 1.17(g) which includes a showing of good and sufficient cause for the delay in filing the certified copy of the foreign application in a design application.

However, it’s important to note that if the claim for priority or the certified copy is filed after the issue fee is paid, the patent will not include the priority claim unless corrected by a certificate of correction.

To learn more:

• foreign priority
• certified copy
• filing deadline
• patent application