What is the standard order of examination for nonprovisional patent applications?
Nonprovisional patent applications are typically examined in the order they are filed, with some exceptions. As stated in the MPEP:
“Nonprovisional applications are ordinarily taken up for examination by the examiner to whom they have been assigned in the order in which they have been filed except for those applications in which examination has been advanced pursuant to 37 CFR 1.102.”
However, there are several factors that can affect the order of examination, including special status applications and the oldest effective U.S. filing date within an examiner’s docket.
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