What happens if a reexamination request is submitted to the wrong Technology Center?

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.

If a reexamination request is submitted to the wrong Technology Center (TC), the following procedure applies:

• The TC Director will return the request papers to the Office of Patent Legal Administration (OPLA).
• OPLA will forward the request papers to the appropriate TC.
• The appropriate TC will process the request papers.

This procedure is outlined in MPEP 2237, which states:

“If reexamination is requested for a patent having a classification in a TC other than the one to which the request is submitted, the proper TC should be ascertained and the request papers (including the receipt of filing fee) forwarded to the current TC for that patent.”