How can I petition for access to a pending application?
Any interested party may file a petition, accompanied by the petition fee, to the Director for access to an application. The petition may be filed either with proof of service of copy upon the applicant, or the petition may be filed in duplicate, in which case the duplicate copy will be sent by the Office…
Read MoreWhat happens if I fail to make a timely priority claim or submit a certified copy?
If you fail to make a timely priority claim or submit a certified copy of the foreign application within the required time period, the following may occur: The right of priority may be considered waived The effective filing date of your application may be the actual U.S. filing date, not the foreign filing date Intervening…
Read MoreWhat are the consequences of failing to timely submit a reference to a prior-filed application for a benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 120 or 119(e)?
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…
Read MoreWhat conditions must be met to add omitted material under 37 CFR 1.57(b)?
The following conditions and requirements need to be met to add omitted material to an application under 37 CFR 1.57(b):n n The application must have been filed on or after September 21, 2004 n All or a portion of the specification or drawing(s) must have been inadvertently omitted n A priority claim under 37 CFR…
Read MoreWhen is the latest a certified copy can be filed for the patent to include the foreign priority claim without a certificate of correction?
The certified copy of the foreign application must be filed before the patent is granted. If the certified copy is filed after payment of the issue fee but prior to the date of grant, the priority claim will be placed in the file record but the patent will not include the priority claim unless corrected…
Read MoreWhat can I do if the USPTO refuses to record a document I believe should be recorded?
If the USPTO returns a document unrecorded and you believe it represents an unusual case that justifies recordation, you have the option to petition for its recordation. The MPEP provides the following guidance: “Any document returned unrecorded, which the sender nevertheless believes represents an unusual case which justifies recordation, may be submitted to the Office…
Read MoreHow can I petition for my correspondence to be considered filed on a particular date due to a Priority Mail Express® interruption?
You can petition the USPTO Director to consider correspondence as filed on a particular date if it was returned or refused by the USPS due to a Priority Mail Express® interruption or emergency. The petition process is outlined in 37 CFR 1.10(g) and (h): File the petition promptly after becoming aware of the return or…
Read MoreWhat should I do if there’s a discrepancy between the USPTO filing date and the Priority Mail Express® “date accepted”?
If there’s a discrepancy between the filing date accorded by the USPTO and the “date accepted” on the Priority Mail Express® mailing label, you can file a petition under 37 CFR 1.10(c). MPEP 513 states that such a petition should: Be filed promptly after becoming aware of the discrepancy Include evidence that the Priority Mail…
Read MoreWhat must an applicant with sufficient proprietary interest submit with their patent application?
An applicant who shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter must submit a petition with their patent application, including: The fee set forth in § 1.17(g) A showing that the person has sufficient proprietary interest in the matter A statement that making the application for patent by this person on behalf of and as agent…
Read MoreHow can an applicant request review of a refusal to accord a filing date?
An applicant can request review of a refusal to accord a filing date by filing a petition. The MPEP states: Any review of the refusal to grant a filing date as of the date of deposit of the application would be by way of petition, accompanied by the petition fee (37 CFR 1.17(f)). Petitioner should…
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