What is the legal basis for granting a petition for stay in a patent term extension application?
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.
The legal basis for granting a petition for stay in a patent term extension application is found in 37 CFR 1.182. According to MPEP 2765:
“The Office analogizes such petitions for a stay in the patent term extension proceeding under 37 CFR 1.182 to requests for staying action in patent applications and for deferring issuance of a patent filed under 37 CFR 1.103 and 37 CFR 1.314, respectively.”
The standard for granting these requests is “good and sufficient cause.” Additionally, when the patent term under 35 U.S.C. 154(a) and (b) has lapsed or will lapse during the requested stay, the patent owner must show that justice requires the stay.