How are fees handled in merged reexamination proceedings?
In merged reexamination proceedings, the USPTO simplifies the fee structure. According to MPEP 2686.01:
“Where the proceedings have been merged and a paper is filed which requires payment of a fee (e.g., excess claims fee, extension of time fee, petition fee, appeal fee, brief fee, oral hearing fee), only a single fee need be paid.”
This means that even though the merged proceeding involves multiple files, parties only need to pay one fee for actions that apply to the entire merged proceeding. For example, only one fee is required for filing an appellant brief, even if copies must be filed for each file in the merged proceeding.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 2600 - Optional Inter Partes Reexamination,
MPEP 2686.01 - Multiple Copending Reexamination Proceedings,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure