Can I request a suspension of action to submit an information disclosure statement?
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, requesting a suspension of action solely to submit an information disclosure statement (IDS) is not considered a valid reason. According to MPEP 709, “A petition for suspension of action to allow applicant time to submit an information disclosure statement will be denied as failing to present good and sufficient reasons, since 37 CFR 1.97 provides adequate recourse for the timely submission of prior art for consideration by the examiner.” This means that the existing procedures for submitting an IDS are deemed sufficient, and a suspension of action is not necessary for this purpose.