2634 Fee Processing and Procedure [R-07.2015]

All fees in an inter partes reexamination proceeding (including the fee for filing the request for inter partes reexamination (see MPEP § 2615)) are processed by the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU). The fees will be posted by the CRU via the Revenue Accounting and Managing (RAM) program.

In an inter partes reexamination proceeding, fees are due for the request (37 CFR 1.915(a)), for the addition of claims by the patent owner during the proceeding (excess claims fees under 37 CFR 1.20(c)(3) and (c)(4)), for an extension of time under 37 CFR 1.956, and for any appeal, brief, and oral hearing under 37 CFR 41.20(b). All petitions filed relating to a reexamination proceeding require fees (37 CFR 1.937(d)).

No fee is required for the issuance of a reexamination certificate.

Micro entity reductions are available to patent owners only. Specifically, micro entity and small entity reductions under 35 U.S.C. 41(h)(1) are available to the patent owner for extension of time fees, appeal fees, brief fees, oral hearing fees, excess claims fees, and petition fees. Small entity reductions are available to the third party requester for petition fees, appeal fees, brief fees, and oral hearing fees; however, micro entity reductions are not available to third party requesters.

When a fee is required in a merged proceeding, only a single fee is needed, even though multiple copies of the submissions (one for each file) are required. See MPEP § 2686.01.