Can a third party requester petition to merge a reexamination proceeding with a reissue application?
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.
A third party requester does not have the right to petition for the merger of a reexamination proceeding with a reissue application. The MPEP clearly states:
The third party requester does not have a right to file a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 to merge a reexamination proceeding and a reissue application examination, since a reexamination third party requester does not have any standing to request relief with respect to a reissue application, to which requester cannot be a party.
However, the third party requester can:
- File a notification of concurrent proceedings under MPEP § 2282
- File a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 to stay the reexamination proceeding that it requested
After being notified of a concurrent reissue application, the Office of Patent Legal Administration (OPLA) will consider the merger and suspension options sua sponte.