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2641 Time for Deciding Request [Added R-2] - 2600 Optional Inter Partes Reexamination
2641 Time for Deciding Request [Added R-2]
The determination of whether or not to reexamine must be made (completed and mailed) not later than three (3) months after the filing date of a request. See 35 U.S.C. 312(a) and 37 CFR 1.923. If the 3-month period ends on a Saturday, Sunday or Federal holiday within the District of Columbia, then the determination must be mailed by the preceding business day.
Generally, the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) forwards the inter partes reexamination case to the Technology Center (TC) Special Program Examiner (SPRE) within two (2) weeks of the filing date of the request. The SPRE processes the case as needed and delivers it to the appropriate Supervisory Patent Examiner (SPE) for docketing of the case to an appropriate examiner.
(A) The examiner has one (1) week from his/her receipt of the reexamination case to prepare for an initial consultation conference with a Reexamination Legal Advisor (RLA). After the consultation with the RLA, the examiner has two (2) weeks from the date of the consultation conference to prepare the decision on the request and an Office action (if reexamination is granted), and forwards the case to the TC SPRE. The decision and the action will be reviewed by the SPRE and the case will be forwarded (hand carried) to the CRU.
(B) At the very latest, the decision and action prepared by the examiner must be forwarded (hand carried) by the SPRE to the CRU within nine (9) weeks from the filing date of the request.
(C) It should be noted that the first Office action ordinarily accompanies an order for reexamination; however, if the issuance of the first Office action would delay the order to the extent that a critical deadline will not be met, the order will be mailed and the first action will follow in due course, as per the guidance set forth in MPEP § 2660.
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