Can a restriction requirement be repeated after being withdrawn?
Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based)BlueIron Update: 2024-09-27
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
Yes, a restriction requirement can be repeated after being withdrawn. According to MPEP 811.03, “Where a requirement to restrict is made and thereafter withdrawn as improper, if restriction becomes proper at a later stage in the prosecution, restriction may again be required.” This means that even if a restriction requirement was initially made and then withdrawn due to being improper, it can be reinstated if it becomes appropriate later in the patent examination process.