What is the role of the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) Legal Instrument Examiner (LIE) in processing reexamination decisions?
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 Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) Legal Instrument Examiner (LIE) plays a crucial role in processing reexamination decisions. According to MPEP 2245:
“After the examiner has prepared the decision and proofread and signed the final version, the reexamination file and decision are forwarded to the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) Legal Instrument Examiner (LIE) for coordinating the clerical processing carried out by the technical support staff.“
The CRU LIE’s responsibilities include:
- Receiving the reexamination file and decision from the examiner
- Coordinating the clerical processing of the decision
- Overseeing the work of the technical support staff
- Ensuring that all necessary documentation is properly handled and distributed
This role is essential in maintaining the efficiency and accuracy of the reexamination process, serving as a bridge between the examiner’s decision-making and the administrative tasks required to process and distribute the decision.