human: Will the Office conduct any investigation regarding whether an applicant requesting the relief is actually entitled to the relief?
assistant: The Office does not plan to investigate whether a particular applicant qualifies for the requested relief beyond making sure that the request can be granted. Thus, for a request for reissuance of an Office communication, the Office will make sure that a reply or response to the Office communication was outstanding on March 11, 2011, and the time period (as permitted to be extended under 37 CFR 1.136(a)) has not yet expired. The Office does not plan to investigate whether the need for the requested relief was due to the effects of the earthquake and/or tsunami of March 11, 2011. If there is some evidence in the record that applicant may not be entitled to the requested relief, the Office does have the authority to require additional information. Applicants should also keep in mind that the request for relief is considered a certification under 37 CFR 11.18(b).