What happens if a reply to an Office action is filed after the application is considered abandoned?
Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based)BlueIron Update: 2024-09-10
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 reply to an Office action is filed after the application is considered abandoned, the following may occur:
- The reply may be treated as a petition to revive the application.
- The examiner may consider the reply if it was filed within a reasonable time after the period for reply.
- If the reply was not filed within a reasonable time, a petition to revive may be required.
MPEP 711.04(a) provides guidance: ‘An examiner’s holding of abandonment when the reply period has expired is reviewed by the Office of Petitions.’ This means that if there’s a dispute about the abandonment, it can be reviewed by the appropriate USPTO office.