Can an Application Data Sheet (ADS) be submitted in a supplemental examination proceeding?
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.
No, an Application Data Sheet (ADS) cannot be submitted in a supplemental examination proceeding. MPEP 2813 explicitly states:
“An application data sheet (ADS) under 37 CFR 1.76 cannot be submitted in a supplemental examination proceeding since a supplemental examination proceeding is not an ‘application.’“
This clarification is important because while ADSs are commonly used in patent applications to provide and update bibliographic data, supplemental examination is a post-grant proceeding and not a new application. Therefore, the ADS form is not applicable or accepted in this context.