What constitutes a ‘reasonable’ excuse for inactivity in the diligence period?

A ‘reasonable’ excuse for inactivity in the diligence period is context-dependent and evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The MPEP 715.07(a) provides guidance: ‘Reasonable excuses for inactivity include illness, employment obligations, military service, and activity on other applications or inventions.’ However, the USPTO emphasizes that these excuses must be properly explained and supported: ‘The work relied…

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