Patent Law FAQ

This FAQ answers all your questions about patent law, patent procedure, and the patent examination process.

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MPEP 200 - Types and Status of Application; Benefit and Priority (2)

What is the time period for correcting a benefit claim under 37 CFR 1.78?

The time period for correcting a benefit claim under 37 CFR 1.78 is crucial for patent applicants. According to MPEP 211.02(a):

The time period for making a claim for benefit of a prior-filed application under 37 CFR 1.78(a)(3) and 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3) is specified in 37 CFR 1.78(a)(4) and 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3).

The specific time periods are:

  • For nonprovisional applications: The later of 4 months from the actual filing date of the application or 16 months from the filing date of the prior application
  • For design applications: The later of 4 months from the actual filing date of the application or 16 months from the filing date of the prior application
  • For international applications entering the national stage: The time period in 37 CFR 1.55 for claiming priority to foreign applications applies

It’s important to note that if you miss these deadlines, you may need to file a petition under 37 CFR 1.78(c) or (e) to accept an unintentionally delayed benefit claim.

To learn more:

To learn more:

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.

MPEP 200 - Types and Status of Application; Benefit and Priority Claims (2)

The reference to the prior-filed application to claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 119(e) must be submitted within the following time periods under 37 CFR 1.78:

  • For an application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), the later of four months from the filing date or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application
  • For a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371, the later of four months from national stage commencement under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f), four months from initial national stage submission, or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application

Failure to timely submit the reference is considered a waiver of any benefit claim. A petition and fee would be required to accept a delayed submission. See MPEP 211.04.

Failure to timely submit the reference to the prior-filed application within the time periods specified in 37 CFR 1.78 is considered a waiver of any benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to the prior-filed application. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3)(iii). The time periods are not extendable.

If the reference to the prior-filed application is submitted after the time period provided by 37 CFR 1.78, a petition and the petition fee under 37 CFR 1.17(m) would be required to accept the delayed claim. The petition must be accompanied by:

  • The reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and 37 CFR 1.78 to the prior-filed application
  • The petition fee
  • A statement that the entire delay between the date the benefit claim was due and the date the claim was filed was unintentional

MPEP 211 - Claiming the Benefit of an Earlier Filing Date Under 35 U.S.C. 120 and 119(e) (2)

The reference to the prior-filed application to claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 119(e) must be submitted within the following time periods under 37 CFR 1.78:

  • For an application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), the later of four months from the filing date or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application
  • For a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371, the later of four months from national stage commencement under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f), four months from initial national stage submission, or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application

Failure to timely submit the reference is considered a waiver of any benefit claim. A petition and fee would be required to accept a delayed submission. See MPEP 211.04.

Failure to timely submit the reference to the prior-filed application within the time periods specified in 37 CFR 1.78 is considered a waiver of any benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to the prior-filed application. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3)(iii). The time periods are not extendable.

If the reference to the prior-filed application is submitted after the time period provided by 37 CFR 1.78, a petition and the petition fee under 37 CFR 1.17(m) would be required to accept the delayed claim. The petition must be accompanied by:

  • The reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and 37 CFR 1.78 to the prior-filed application
  • The petition fee
  • A statement that the entire delay between the date the benefit claim was due and the date the claim was filed was unintentional

MPEP 215-Certified Copy of Foreign Application (1)

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.

Patent Law (4)

The reference to the prior-filed application to claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 119(e) must be submitted within the following time periods under 37 CFR 1.78:

  • For an application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), the later of four months from the filing date or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application
  • For a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371, the later of four months from national stage commencement under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f), four months from initial national stage submission, or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application

Failure to timely submit the reference is considered a waiver of any benefit claim. A petition and fee would be required to accept a delayed submission. See MPEP 211.04.

What is the time period for correcting a benefit claim under 37 CFR 1.78?

The time period for correcting a benefit claim under 37 CFR 1.78 is crucial for patent applicants. According to MPEP 211.02(a):

The time period for making a claim for benefit of a prior-filed application under 37 CFR 1.78(a)(3) and 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3) is specified in 37 CFR 1.78(a)(4) and 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3).

The specific time periods are:

  • For nonprovisional applications: The later of 4 months from the actual filing date of the application or 16 months from the filing date of the prior application
  • For design applications: The later of 4 months from the actual filing date of the application or 16 months from the filing date of the prior application
  • For international applications entering the national stage: The time period in 37 CFR 1.55 for claiming priority to foreign applications applies

It’s important to note that if you miss these deadlines, you may need to file a petition under 37 CFR 1.78(c) or (e) to accept an unintentionally delayed benefit claim.

To learn more:

To learn more:

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.

Failure to timely submit the reference to the prior-filed application within the time periods specified in 37 CFR 1.78 is considered a waiver of any benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to the prior-filed application. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3)(iii). The time periods are not extendable.

If the reference to the prior-filed application is submitted after the time period provided by 37 CFR 1.78, a petition and the petition fee under 37 CFR 1.17(m) would be required to accept the delayed claim. The petition must be accompanied by:

  • The reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and 37 CFR 1.78 to the prior-filed application
  • The petition fee
  • A statement that the entire delay between the date the benefit claim was due and the date the claim was filed was unintentional

Patent Procedure (4)

The reference to the prior-filed application to claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 119(e) must be submitted within the following time periods under 37 CFR 1.78:

  • For an application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), the later of four months from the filing date or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application
  • For a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371, the later of four months from national stage commencement under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f), four months from initial national stage submission, or sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed application

Failure to timely submit the reference is considered a waiver of any benefit claim. A petition and fee would be required to accept a delayed submission. See MPEP 211.04.

What is the time period for correcting a benefit claim under 37 CFR 1.78?

The time period for correcting a benefit claim under 37 CFR 1.78 is crucial for patent applicants. According to MPEP 211.02(a):

The time period for making a claim for benefit of a prior-filed application under 37 CFR 1.78(a)(3) and 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3) is specified in 37 CFR 1.78(a)(4) and 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3).

The specific time periods are:

  • For nonprovisional applications: The later of 4 months from the actual filing date of the application or 16 months from the filing date of the prior application
  • For design applications: The later of 4 months from the actual filing date of the application or 16 months from the filing date of the prior application
  • For international applications entering the national stage: The time period in 37 CFR 1.55 for claiming priority to foreign applications applies

It’s important to note that if you miss these deadlines, you may need to file a petition under 37 CFR 1.78(c) or (e) to accept an unintentionally delayed benefit claim.

To learn more:

To learn more:

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.

Failure to timely submit the reference to the prior-filed application within the time periods specified in 37 CFR 1.78 is considered a waiver of any benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to the prior-filed application. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(3)(iii). The time periods are not extendable.

If the reference to the prior-filed application is submitted after the time period provided by 37 CFR 1.78, a petition and the petition fee under 37 CFR 1.17(m) would be required to accept the delayed claim. The petition must be accompanied by:

  • The reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and 37 CFR 1.78 to the prior-filed application
  • The petition fee
  • A statement that the entire delay between the date the benefit claim was due and the date the claim was filed was unintentional