What is the role of a TQAS in reissue application examination?

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.

A Training Quality Assurance Specialist (TQAS) plays a crucial role in the examination of reissue applications. Their responsibilities include:

• Monitoring and reviewing reissue applications at various stages of prosecution
• Ensuring that reissue-specific practices and procedures are followed
• Instructing examiners on reissue-specific procedures
• Conducting patentability reviews on a sample of reissue applications
• Setting and removing status flags to track the application’s progress

MPEP 1456 states: “By having to set this first flag, the TQAS is made aware of the assignment of the reissue application to the TC and can take steps, as may be appropriate, to instruct the examiner on reissue-specific procedures before the examination process begins, as well as throughout the examination of the reissue application.“