Examination of Applications
Quick Statistics:
Number of Pages: 310
Sections: 701 – 724
Brief Summary:
Learn about the many aspects of the examination process including; appropriate replies to a first Office action, second Office action and final rejections. Rejections are commonly made under 35 U.S.C. 101, 102 and 103. These laws are very intricate as are the procedures for overcoming the rejections. Swearing back and making amendments are possibilities for overcoming rejections. Both of these options are discussed in great detail.
Several petitions are available related to the examination process. These include a petition to make special that can be used to speed up the examination process if the application meets specific criteria.
If an applicant needs more time to reply to an Office action there is a petition to file for an extension of time as well as one for reviving an application that was abandoned due to missing a deadline.
In addition, a few miscellaneous topics are touched upon here also, such as requests for suspension of action, requests for continuing examination (RCE), interviews, and amendments.
Key Terms:
| Abandonment | Amendments | Interviews |
| Prosecution | Rejections |
37 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations):
| 37 CFR 1.136 | Extensions of time. |
| 37 CFR 1.114 | Request for continued examination. |
35 USC (United States Code):
| 35 USC 101 | Inventions patentable. |
| 35 USC 132 | Notice of rejection; reexamination. |