1415 Reissue Application and Issue Fees [R-07.2022]
For reissue applications, the following fees are required: basic filing fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(e); search fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(n); examination fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(r); application size fee, if applicable (see subsection II below); and excess claims fees, if applicable (see subsection III below).
The basic filing, search and examination fees are due on filing of the reissue application. These fees may be paid on a date later than the filing date of the reissue application provided they are paid within the time period set forth in 37 CFR 1.53(f) and include the surcharge set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(f).
For reissue applications in which a petition under 37 CFR 1.138(d) to expressly abandon the application was filed applicant may file a request for refund of the search fee and excess claims fee paid in the application. See MPEP § 711.01.
II. APPLICATION SIZE FEE
37 CFR 1.16(s) sets forth the application size fee for any application in which the specification and drawings exceed 100 sheets of paper. The calculation of the number of sheets excludes any “Sequence Listing”, computer readable form (CRF) of a “Sequence Listing”, or a “Computer Program Listing Appendix” filed in an American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) plain text file or any “Sequence Listing XML” filed in an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) fileon a read-only optical disc or via the USPTO patent electronic filing system in compliance with the rules. See 37 CFR 1.52(f). The application size fee applies for each additional 50 sheets or fraction thereof over 100 sheets of paper. Any “Sequence Listing” or CRF of a “Sequence Listing” in compliance with 37 CFR 1.821(c) or (e), any “Sequence Listing XML” in compliance with 37 CFR 1.831(a) and any “Computer Program Listing Appendix” in compliance with 37 CFR 1.96(c) submitted on a read-only optical disc under 37 CFR 1.52(e) or submitted in an ASCII plain text file or XML file (as applicable) via the USPTO patent electronic filing system will be excluded when determining the application size fee required by 37 CFR 1.16(s). See 37 CFR 1.52(f)(1) and (2). See also MPEP § 607.
III. EXCESS CLAIMS FEES
37 CFR 1.16(h) sets forth the excess claims fee for each independent claim in excess of three. 37 CFR 1.16(i) sets forth the excess claims fee for each claim (whether independent or dependent) in excess of twenty. For reissue applications filed on or after December 8, 2004, in which a petition under 37 CFR 1.138(d) to expressly abandon the application was filed on or after March 10, 2006, applicant may file a request for refund of the search fee and excess claims fee paid in the application. See MPEP § 711.01.
Under 37 CFR 1.16(h) and (i), the number of claims in the original patent is not relevant in determining the excess claims fee for a reissue application.
Applicant filed a reissue application with the same number of claims as in the patent. The patent has 4 independent claims and 21 total claims. Excess claims fees for the 4th independent claim (one additional independent claim per the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(h)) and the 21st claim (one additional total claim per the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(i)) are required. Under 37 CFR 1.16(h) and (i), the number of claims in the original patent is not relevant in determining the excess claims fees for a reissue application.
The excess claims fees, if any, due with an amendment are required before any consideration of the amendment by the examiner. Upon submission of an amendment (whether entered or not) affecting the claims, payment of fees for those claims in excess of the number previously paid for is required. The additional fees, if any, due with an amendment are calculated on the basis of the claims (total and independent) which would be present, if the amendment were entered. If an amendment is limited to revising the existing claims and it does not result in the addition of any new claim, there is no excess claim fee. Excess claims fees apply only to the addition of claims. It is to be noted that where excess claims fees have been previously paid, a later amendment affecting the claims cannot serve as the basis for granting any refund. See 37 CFR 1.26(a).
Amendments filed before a first Office action, or otherwise not filed in reply to an Office action, presenting additional claims in excess of the number already paid for, not accompanied by the full additional claims fee due, will not be entered in whole or in part and applicant will be so notified. Such amendments filed in reply to an Office action will be regarded as being non-responsive to the Office action and the practice set forth in MPEP § 714.03 will be followed.
An amendment canceling claims accompanying the papers constituting the reissue application will be effective to diminish the number of claims to be considered in calculating the filing fees to be paid. A preliminary amendment filed concurrently with a reply to a Notice To File Missing Parts of Application that required the filing fees, which preliminary amendment cancels or adds claims, will be taken into account in determining the appropriate filing fees due in response to the Notice To File Missing Parts of Application. However, no refund will be made for claims being canceled in the reply that have already been paid for. After a requirement for restriction, non-elected claims will be included in determining the fees due in connection with a subsequent amendment unless such claims are canceled.
IV. ISSUE FEE
The issue fee for issuing each reissue patent is set forth in 37 CFR 1.18(a).
V. REISSUE APPLICATION FEE TRANSMITTAL FORM
The Office has prepared Reissue Application Fee Transmittal Forms which are designed to assist in the correct calculation of reissue filing fees. For reissue applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, use Form PTO/AIA/50; for reissue applications filed before September 16, 2012, use Form PTO/SB/56. Form PTO/AIA/50 is available at www.uspto.gov/PatentForms.