How are inappropriate or untimely papers handled in ex parte reexamination proceedings?

Inappropriate or untimely papers in ex parte reexamination proceedings are generally expunged from the official file. According to MPEP 2267, “Where papers are filed during reexamination proceedings which are inappropriate because of some defect, such papers will be expunged from the official file by marking the papers ‘closed’ and ‘non-public’.” If the paper has already…

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What is the role of the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) in processing BPAI decisions?

What is the role of the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) in processing BPAI decisions? The Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) plays a crucial role in processing decisions from the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) in reexamination proceedings: Receives the BPAI decision forwarded after scanning into the Image File Wrapper (IFW). Processes the decision for…

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How is a decision by the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) processed in reexamination?

How is a decision by the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) processed in reexamination? When the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) issues a decision in a reexamination proceeding, the following steps are taken: The decision is scanned into the Image File Wrapper (IFW). The decision is forwarded to the Central Reexamination…

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What is the Image File Wrapper (IFW) system and how does it affect patent examination?

The Image File Wrapper (IFW) system is a digital storage and retrieval system for patent application files. It has significantly impacted the patent examination process: Examiners can view application papers from their desktop via the Patent Examiner’s Toolkit. IFW files are readily accessible, eliminating the need for physical file retrieval in many cases. Non-IFW files…

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