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1442.01 Litigation-Related Reissues - 1400 Correction of Patents
1442.01 Litigation-Related Reissues
During initial review, the examiner should determine whether the patent for which the reissue has been filed is involved in litigation, and if so, the status of that litigation. If the examiner becomes aware of litigation involving the patent sought to be reissued during examination of the reissue application, and applicant has not made the details regarding that litigation of record in the reissue application, the examiner, in the next Office action, will inquire regarding the specific details of the litigation.
Form paragraph 14.06 may be used for such an inquiry.
¶ 14.06 Litigation-Related Reissue
The patent sought to be reissued by this application [1] involved in litigation. Any documents and/or materials which would be material to patentability of this reissue application are required to be made of record in response to this action.
Due to the related litigation status of this application, EXTENSIONS OF TIME UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 37 CFR 1.136(a) WILL NOT BE PERMITTED DURING THE PROSECUTION OF THIS APPLICATION.
Examiner Note
In bracket 1, insert either -is- or -has been-.
If additional details of the litigation appear to be material to examination of the reissue application, the examiner may make such additional inquiries as necessary and appropriate.
If the existence of litigation has not already been noted, the examiner should place a prominent notation on the application file to indicate the litigation (1) at the bottom of the face of the file in the box just to the right of the box for the retention label, and (2) on the pink Reissue Notice Card form.
Applicants will normally be given 1 month to reply to Office actions in all reissue applications which are being examined during litigation, or after litigation had been stayed, dismissed, etc., to allow for consideration of the reissue by the Office. This 1-month period may be extended only upon a showing of clear justification pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(b). The Office action will inform applicant that the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a) are not available. Of course, up to 3 months may be set for reply if the examiner determines such a period is clearly justified.
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