What information is included in an Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate?

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.

An Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate contains several key pieces of information about the reexamined patent. According to the MPEP, the certificate includes:

• The title “Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate”
• An ordinal number (e.g., “235th”)
• The original patent number followed by a two-character kind code
• The date of issuance
• The title of the invention
• The name of the inventor
• The current classification
• An abstract
• A notice regarding the list of prior art documents
• The filing date and number of the reexamination request
• Identification of the patent for which the certificate is issued
• The status of confirmed, canceled, disclaimed, and not examined claims
• The text of new and amended claims
• Any relevant court decisions

The MPEP notes: The certificate will identify the patent claims which were confirmed as patentable, canceled, disclaimed, and those claims not examined. Only the status of the confirmed, canceled, disclaimed, and not examined claims will be indicated in the certificate. The text of the new and amended claims will be printed in the certificate.