MPEP Chapter 2600 » Software Patents & More

Optional Inter Partes Reexamination

Section 2601 Introduction
Section 2601.01 Flowcharts
Section 2602 Citation of Prior Art
Section 2609 Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2610 Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2611 Time for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2612 Persons Who May File a Request
Section 2613 Representative of Requester
Section 2614 Content of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2615 Fee for Requesting Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2616 Substantial New Question of Patentability/Reasonable Likelihood That Requester Will Prevail
Section 2617 Statement in the Request Applying Prior Art
Section 2618 Copies of Prior Art (Patents and Printed Publications)
Section 2619 Copy of Printed Patent
Section 2620 Certificate of Service
Section 2621 [Reserved]
Section 2622 Address of Patent Owner
Section 2623 Withdrawal of Attorney or Agent
Section 2624 Correspondence
Section 2625 Untimely Paper Filed Prior to First Office Action
Section 2626 Initial Processing of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2627 Incomplete Request for Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2628 [Reserved]
Section 2629 Notice of Request for Inter Partes Reexamination in Official Gazette
Section 2630 Constructive Notice to Patent Owner
Section 2631 Processing of Request Corrections
Section 2632 Public Access
Section 2632.01 Determining If a Reexamination Request Was Filed for a Patent
Section 2633 [Reserved]
Section 2634 Fee Processing and Procedure
Section 2635 Record Systems
Section 2636 Assignment of Reexamination
Section 2637 [Reserved]
Section 2638 Time Reporting
Section 2639 [Reserved]
Section 2640 Decision on Request
Section 2641 Time for Deciding Request
Section 2642 Criteria for Deciding Request
Section 2643 Claims Considered in Deciding Request
Section 2644 Prior Art on Which the Determination Is Based
Section 2645 [Reserved]
Section 2646 Decision Ordering Reexamination
Section 2647 Decision Denying Reexamination
Section 2647.01 Examples of Decisions on Requests
Section 2647.02 Processing of Decision
Section 2648 Petition From Denial of Request
Section 2654 Conduct of Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings
Section 2655 Who Reexamines
Section 2656 Prior Art Patents and Printed Publications Reviewed by Examiner in Reexamination
Section 2657 Listing of Prior Art
Section 2658 Scope of Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2659 Res Judicata and Collateral Estoppel in Reexamination Proceedings
Section 2660 First Office Action
Section 2660.01 [Reserved]
Section 2660.02 The Title
Section 2660.03 Dependent Claims
Section 2661 Special Status for Action
Section 2662 Time for Response and Comments
Section 2663 [Reserved]
Section 2664 Mailing of Office Action
Section 2665 Extension of Time for Patent Owner Response
Section 2666 Patent Owner Response to Office Action
Section 2666.01 Amendment by Patent Owner
Section 2666.02 Correction of Patent Drawings
Section 2666.03 Correction of Inventorship
Section 2666.04 Fees for Adding Claims
Section 2666.05 Third Party Comments After Patent Owner Response
Section 2666.06 Service of Papers
Section 2666.07-2666.09 [Reserved]
Section 2666.10 Patent Owner Does Not Respond to Office Action
Section 2666.11 – 2666.19 [Reserved]
Section 2666.20 Third Party Does Not Comment After Patent Owner Response
Section 2666.21 – 2666.29 [Reserved]
Section 2666.30 Submission Not Fully Responsive to Non-final Office Action
Section 2666.31 – 2666.39 [Reserved]
Section 2666.40 Patent Owner Completion of Response and Third Party Comments Thereon
Section 2666.41-2666.49 [Reserved]
Section 2666.50 Examiner Issues Notice of Defective Paper in Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2666.51-2666.59 [Reserved]
Section 2666.60 Response by Patent Owner/Third Party to Notice of Defective Paper
Section 2667 Handling of Inappropriate or Untimely Filed Papers
Section 2668 Petition for Entry of Late Papers for Revival of Reexamination Proceeding
Section 2669 [Reserved]
Section 2670 Clerical Handling
Section 2671 Examiner Action Following Response/Comments or Expiration of Time for Same
Section 2671.01 Examiner Issues Action on Merits That Does Not Close Prosecution
Section 2671.02 Examiner Issues Action Closing Prosecution (ACP)
Section 2671.03 Panel Review
Section 2672 Patent Owner Comments/Amendment After ACP and Third Party Requester Responsive Comments
Section 2673 Examiner Consideration of Submissions After ACP and Further Action
Section 2673.01 Reopening Prosecution After ACP
Section 2673.02 Examiner Issues Right of Appeal Notice (RAN)
Section 2674 Appeal in Inter Partes Reexamination
Section 2674.01 Cross Appeal After Original Appeal
Section 2675 Appellant Brief
Section 2675.01 Respondent Brief
Section 2675.02 Informalities in One or More of the Briefs
Section 2676 Appeal Conference
Section 2677 Examiner’s Answer
Section 2678 Rebuttal Briefs
Section 2679 Office Treatment of Rebuttal Brief
Section 2680 Oral Hearing
Section 2681 Board Decision
Section 2682 Action Following Decision
Section 2683 Appeal to Courts
Section 2684 Information Material to Patentability in Reexamination Proceeding
Section 2685 No Interviews on Merits in Inter Partes Reexamination Proceedings
Section 2686 Notification of Existence of Prior or Concurrent Proceedings and Decisions Thereon
Section 2686.01 Multiple Copending Reexamination Proceedings
Section 2686.02 Copending Reexamination and Interference Proceedings
Section 2686.03 Copending Reexamination and Reissue Proceedings
Section 2686.04 Reexamination and Litigation Proceedings
Section 2686.05 Reexamination and Inter Partes Review Proceedings, Post-Grant Review, and Covered Business Method Patent Review
Section 2687 Notice of Intent to Issue Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate (NIRC) and Conclusion of Reexamination Proceeding
Section 2687.01 Examiner Consideration of Submissions After NIRC
Section 2688 Issuance of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate
Section 2689 Reexamination Review
Section 2690 Format of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate
Section 2691 Notice of Inter Partes Reexamination Certificate Issuance in Official Gazette
Section 2692 Distribution of Certificate
Section 2693 Intervening Rights
Section 2694 Concluded Reexamination Proceedings
Section 2695 Reexamination of a Reexamination
Section 2696 USPTO Forms To Be Used in Inter Partes Reexamination

Optional Inter Partes Reexamination

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