Chapter 2600

Optional Inter Partes Reexamination

United States Patent and Trademark Office

2601Introduction 2602Citation of Prior Art 26032608 - [Reserved]2609Inter Partes Reexamination 2610Request for Inter Partes Reexamination 2611Time for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination 2612Persons Who May File a Request 2613Representative of Requester 2614Content of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination 2615Fee for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination 2616Substantial New Question of Patentability/Reasonable Likelihood That Requester Will Prevail 2617Statement in the Request Applying Prior Art 2618Copies of Prior Art (Patents and Printed Publications)2619Copy of Printed Patent 2620Certificate of Service 2621[Reserved]2622Address of Patent Owner 2623Withdrawal of Attorney or Agent 2624Correspondence 2625Untimely Paper Filed Prior to First Office Action 2626Initial Processing of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination 2627Incomplete Request for Inter Partes Reexamination 2628[Reserved]2629Notice of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination in Official Gazette 2630Constructive Notice to Patent Owner 2631Processing of Request Corrections 2632Public Access 2633[Reserved]2634Fee Processing and Procedure 2635Record Systems 2636Assignment of Reexamination 2637[Reserved]2638Time Reporting 2639[Reserved]2640Decision on Request 2641Time for Deciding Request 2642Criteria for Deciding Request 2643Claims Considered in Deciding Request 2644Prior Art on Which the Determination Is Based 2645[Reserved]2646Decision Ordering Reexamination 2647Decision Denying Reexamination 2648Petition From Denial of Request 26492653 - [Reserved]2654Conduct of Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings 2655Who Reexamines 2656Prior Art Patents and Printed Publications Reviewed by Examiner in Reexamination 2657Listing of Prior Art 2658Scope of Inter Partes Reexamination 2659Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel in Reexamination Proceedings 2660First Office Action 2661Special Status for Action 2662Time for Response and Comments 2663[Reserved]2664Mailing of Office Action 2665Extension of Time for Patent Owner Response 2666Patent Owner Response to Office Action 2667Handling of Inappropriate or Untimely Filed Papers 2668Petition for Entry of Late Papers for Revival of Reexamination Proceeding 2669[Reserved]2670Clerical Handling 2671Examiner Action Following Response/Comments or Expiration of Time for Same 2672Patent Owner Comments/Amendment After ACP and Third Party Requester Responsive Comments 2673Examiner Consideration of Submissions After ACP and Further Action 2674Appeal in Inter Partes Reexamination 2675Appellant Brief 2676Appeal Conference 2677Examiner’s Answer 2678Rebuttal Briefs 2679Office Treatment of Rebuttal Brief 2680Oral Hearing 2681Board Decision 2682Action Following Decision 2683Appeal to Courts 2684Information Material to Patentability in Reexamination Proceeding 2685No Interviews on Merits in Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings 2686Notification of Existence of Prior or Concurrent Proceedings and Decisions Thereon 2687Notice of Intent to Issue Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate (NIRC) and Conclusion of Reexamination Proceeding 2688Issuance of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate 2689Reexamination Review 2690Format of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate 2691Notice of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate Issuance in Official Gazette 2692Distribution of Certificate 2693Intervening Rights 2694Concluded Reexamination Proceedings 2695Reexamination of a Reexamination 2696USPTO Forms To Be Used in Inter Partes Reexamination