MPEP § 1901 — MPEP § 1901
Current through: 2022-07-01

1901-Protest Under 37 CFR 1.291 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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 Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 

 Chapter 1900 

 Section 1901 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 1901 Protest Under 37 CFR 1.291 [R-10.2019]

 
 37 CFR 1.291 Protests by the public against pending applications. 

 
 (a) A protest may be filed by a member of the public against a
 pending application, and it will be matched with the application file if it
 adequately identifies the patent application. A protest submitted within the time
 frame of paragraph (b) of this section, which is not matched, or not matched in a
 timely manner to permit review by the examiner during prosecution, due to
 inadequate identification, may not be entered and may be returned to the protestor
 where practical, or, if return is not practical, discarded.
 

 (b) The protest will be entered into the record of the application
 if, in addition to complying with paragraph (c) of this section, the protest has
 been served upon the applicant in accordance with § 1.248 , or
 filed with the Office in duplicate in the event service is not possible; and,
 except for paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the protest was filed prior to the
 date the application was published under § 1.211 , or the date a notice
 of allowance under § 1.311 was given or mailed,
 whichever occurs first:
 
 (1) If a protest is accompanied by the written consent of the
 applicant, the protest will be considered if the protest is filed prior to
 the date a notice of allowance under § 1.311 was given or
 mailed in the application.
 

 (2) A statement must accompany a protest that it is the first
 protest submitted in the application by the real party in interest who is
 submitting the protest; or the protest must comply with paragraph (c)(5) of
 this section. This section does not apply to the first protest filed in an
 application.
 

 
 

 (c) In addition to compliance with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
 section, a protest must include:
 
 (1) An information list of the documents, portions of
 documents, or other information being submitted, where each:
 
 (i) U.S. patent is identified by patent
 number, first named inventor, and issue date;
 

 (ii) U.S. patent application publication is
 identified by patent application publication number, first named
 inventor, and publication date;
 

 (iii) Foreign patent or published foreign
 patent application is identified by the country or patent office that
 issued the patent or published the application; an appropriate
 document number; the applicant, patentee, or first named inventor; and
 the publication date indicated on the patent or published
 application;
 

 (iv) Non-patent publication is identified by
 author (if any), title, pages being submitted, publication date, and,
 where available, publisher and place of publication; and
 

 (v) Item of other information is identified
 by date, if known;
 

 
 

 (2) A concise explanation of the relevance of each item
 identified in the information list pursuant to paragraph (c)(1) of this
 section;
 

 (3) A legible copy of each item identified in the information
 list, other than U.S. patents and U.S. patent application publications;
 

 (4) An English language translation of any non-English language
 item identified in the information list; and
 

 (5) If it is a second or subsequent protest by the same party
 in interest, an explanation as to why the issue(s) raised in the second or
 subsequent protest are significantly different than those raised earlier and
 why the significantly different issue(s) were not presented earlier, and a
 processing fee under § 1.17(i) must be
 submitted. 
 

 
 

 (d) A member of the public filing a protest in an application under
 this section will not receive any communication from the Office relating to the
 protest, other than the return of a self-addressed postcard which the member of
 the public may include with the protest in order to receive an acknowledgement by
 the Office that the protest has been received. The limited involvement of the
 member of the public filing a protest pursuant to this section ends with the
 filing of the protest, and no further submission on behalf of the protestor will
 be considered, unless the submission is made pursuant to paragraph (c)(5) of this
 section.
 

 (e) Where a protest raising inequitable conduct issues satisfies the
 provisions of this section for entry, it will be entered into the application
 file, generally without comment on the inequitable conduct issues raised in
 it.
 

 (f) In the absence of a request by the Office, an applicant need not
 reply to a protest.
 

 (g) Protests that fail to comply with paragraphs (b) or (c) of this
 section may not be entered, and if not entered, will be returned to the protestor,
 or discarded, at the option of the Office.
 

 
 

 
 37 CFR 1.248 Service of papers; manner of service; proof of service; proof of service in
 cases other than interferences and trials. 

 
 (a) Service of papers must be on the attorney or agent of the party
 if there be such or on the party if there is no attorney or agent, and may be made
 in any of the following ways:
 
 (1) By delivering a copy of the paper to the person served;

 (2) By leaving a copy at the usual place of business of the
 person served with someone in his employment;
 

 (3) When the person served has no usual place of business, by
 leaving a copy at the person’s residence, with some person of suitable age
 and discretion who resides there;
 

 (4) Transmission by first class mail. When service is by mail
 the date of mailing will be regarded as the date of service;
 

 (5) Whenever it shall be satisfactorily shown to the Director
 that none of the above modes of obtaining or serving the paper is
 practicable, service may be by notice published in the Official
 Gazette .
 

 
 

 (b) Papers filed in the Patent and Trademark Office which are
 required to be served shall contain proof of service. Proof of service may appear
 on or be affixed to papers filed. Proof of service shall include the date and
 manner of service. In the case of personal service, proof of service shall also
 include the name of any person served, certified by the person who made service.
 Proof of service may be made by:
 
 (1) An acknowledgement of service by or on behalf of the person
 served or
 

 (2) A statement signed by the attorney or agent containing the
 information required by this section.
 

 
 

 (c) See § 41.106(e) or
 §
 42.6(e) of this title for service of papers in contested
 cases or trials before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
 

 
 

 The degree of participation allowed a protestor is solely within the
 discretion of the Director of the USPTO. 
 

 37 CFR
 1.291 gives recognition to the value of written protests in bringing
 information to the attention of the Office and in avoiding the issuance of invalid patents.
 With the exception of a protest accompanied by a written consent of the applicant,
 all protests must be submitted prior to the publication of the application or
 the date a notice of allowance is given or mailed, whichever occurs first. No protest or
 "other form of preissuance opposition to the grant of a patent" may be initiated after
 publication of the application without the applicant’s express written consent as
 specified by 35 U.S.C. 122(c) . Even if applicant’s
 express written consent is given, the protest must be filed prior to the date a notice of
 allowance is given or mailed. Third parties wishing to submit information in the form of
 patents and printed publications after publication of the application might consider
 whether a third-party submission under 35 U.S.C. 122(e) would be appropriate.
 See MPEP §
 1134.01 .
 

 It is noted that a protest filed in a reissue application is not a
 
 "form of preissuance opposition to the grant of a
 patent"
 
 
 since the patent to be reissued has already been granted.
 Thus, a protest may be filed in a reissue application throughout the pendency of the
 reissue application prior to the date a notice of allowance is given or mailed subject to
 the timing constraints of the examination. A protest with regard to a reissue application
 should, however, be filed within the 2-month period following the announcement of the
 filing of the reissue application in the Official Gazette . See
 MPEP §
 1441.01 for guidance as to the filing of a protest in a reissue
 application.
 

 A protest may not be filed in a provisional application
 because provisional applications are not examined. A protest filed in a provisional
 application will not be entered and will be discarded pursuant to 37 CFR 1.291(g) .
 

 37 CFR
 1.291(b) provides that a timely received protest will be entered into
 the record of the application if, in addition to complying with the requirements of
 37 CFR
 1.291(c) , the protest is accompanied by the statement under
 37 CFR
 1.291(b)(2) or it complies with 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) , and is either
 served upon the applicant, or is filed in duplicate in the event service is not possible.
 In the event a duplicate protest is enclosed for the applicant, the protest should be
 accompanied by an explanation of why service on applicant could not be made.
 

 37 CFR
 1.291(c) requires that the protest must include:
 

 
 (A) An information list of the documents, portions of documents, or
 other information being submitted, where each:
 
 (1) U.S. patent is identified by patent number,
 first named inventor, and issue date;
 

 (2) U.S. patent application publication is
 identified by patent application publication number, first named inventor, and
 publication date;
 

 (3) Foreign patent or published foreign patent
 application is identified by the country or patent office that issued the
 patent or published the application; an appropriate document number; the
 applicant, patentee, or first named inventor; and the publication date
 indicated on the patent or published application;
 

 (4) Non-patent publication is identified by author
 (if any), title, pages being submitted, publication date, and, where available,
 publisher and place of publication; and
 

 (5) Item of other information is identified by
 date, if known.
 

 
 

 (B) A concise explanation of the relevance of each item identified in
 the information list; 
 

 (C) A legible copy of each item identified in the information list,
 other than U.S. patents and U.S. patent application publications; 
 

 (D) An English language translation of any non-English language item
 identified in the information list; and
 

 
 
 (E) If the protest is a second or subsequent protest by the same real
 party in interest, the protest must further include:
 
 (1) an explanation as to why the issue(s) being raised in the
 second or subsequent protest are significantly different than those raised
 earlier;
 

 (2) an explanation as to why the significantly different issue(s)
 were not presented to the Office earlier; and
 

 (3) the processing fee under 37 CFR
 1.17(i) .
 

 
 

 
 As to item (A) above, 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(1)(iii) provides flexibility in permitting identification of
 foreign patents and published foreign patent applications by the applicant, patentee or
 first named inventor. Likewise, 37 CFR 1.291(c)(1)(iv) only requires
 identification of the author, publisher, and place of publication of a non-patent
 publication if that information is available. It is noted that 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(1)(iv) does not preclude a protestor from providing
 additional information that is not specified. For example, a protestor may provide a
 journal title and volume/issue information for a journal article. 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(1)(v) provides for the submission of information other than
 patents and publications, including any facts or information adverse to patentability, and
 requires that each item of “other information” be identified by date, if known. For
 example, if a publication date for a document is not known and the document is not being
 relied upon as a publication, the protestor may list such document as an item of other
 information under 37 CFR 1.291(c)(1)(v) .
 

 As to item (C) above, where only a portion of a document is
 listed as an item in the information list, only a copy of that portion must be submitted.
 It is not required to submit the entire document. In addition, when only a portion of a
 document is submitted, the protestor should also submit copies of pages of the document
 that provide identifying information. For example, if the item in the information list is
 identified as a certain chapter in a text book, then only a copy of that identified chapter
 along with copies of the pages that provide identifying information (e.g., a copy of the
 cover, title page, and copyright information page) should be submitted with the protest. 
 

 As to item (D) above, the required English language
 translation of any non-English item of information may be a reliable machine translation
 and need not be certified. In addition, where only a portion of a non-English language
 document is listed as an item in the information list, only a copy of that portion must be
 submitted along with an English translation of that portion.
 

 Note that item (E) above does not apply if the protest is accompanied by a
 statement that it is the first protest submitted in the application by the real party in
 interest, or if the protest is the first protest ever to be filed in the application.
 37 CFR
 1.291(b)(2) .
 

 A party obtaining knowledge of an application pending in the Office may
 file a protest against the application and may therein call attention to any facts within
 protestor’s knowledge which, in the protestor’s opinion, would make the grant of a patent
 on the application improper. The party should include with the protest whatever information
 the party is aware of that would facilitate identification of the application and matching
 the protest with the application. Where the protest specifically identifies the
 application, and is otherwise compliant, the protest will be considered by the Office if it
 is matched with the application in time to permit review by the examiner during
 prosecution. If there is insufficient information to identify the application, the protest
 may not be matched at all or not timely matched with the intended application to permit
 review by the examiner during prosecution of the application, in which case, the protest
 may not be entered and may be returned to the protestor where practical. If return is not
 practical, the protest will be discarded. 37 CFR 1.291(a) . See
 MPEP §
 1901.03 .
 

 A protestor does not, by the mere filing of a protest, obtain the “right”
 to argue the protest before the Office. Active participation by a protestor ends with the
 filing of the protest, and no further submission on behalf of the protestor will be
 considered, unless the submission is made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) . See
 37 CFR
 1.291(d) . The USPTO will acknowledge the receipt of a protest in an
 original or a reissue application file, only if a self-addressed postcard is included with
 the protest (see MPEP
 § 1901.05 ). The question of whether or not a patent will issue is
 a matter between the applicant and the Office acting on behalf of the public.
 

 
 1901.01 Who Can Protest [R-10.2019]

 Any member of the public, including private persons, corporate
 entities, and government agencies, may file a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 . A
 protest may be filed by an attorney or other representative on behalf of an unnamed real
 party in interest. 37
 CFR 1.291 does not require that the real party in interest be
 identified. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.291(b)(2) , a statement must
 accompany the protest that it is the first protest submitted in the application by the
 real party in interest who is submitting the protest. Where a protest is not the first
 protest by the real party in interest, 37 CFR 1.291(b)(2) requires
 compliance with 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(5) . The requirements of 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) 
 cannot be avoided by multiple protests submitted by different people representing the
 same real party in interest. 37 CFR 1.291(b)(2) does not apply to
 the first protest in an application. A protestor may not know if a protest has already
 been filed (by another), and may have no way of checking (e.g., a non-reissue
 application for which the file wrapper is not publicly available). Should the protest
 (inadvertently or otherwise) fail to include the statement that the protest is the first
 protest by the real party in interest filing the current protest and fail to comply with
 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(5) , if, in fact, the protest is the first filed protest
 in an application, it will be considered where all other conditions are met. 
 

 

 
 1901.02 Information Which Can Be Relied on in Protest [R-10.2019]

 Any information which, in the protestor’s opinion, would make the grant
 of a patent improper can be relied on in a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 .
 While prior art documents, such as patents and publications, are most often the types of
 information relied on in protests, 37 CFR 1.291 is not limited to prior
 art documents. Protests may be based on any facts or information adverse to
 patentability. The content and substance of the protest are more important than whether
 prior art documents, or some other form of evidence adverse to patentability, are being
 relied on. The Office recognizes that when evidence other than prior art documents is
 relied on, problems may arise as to authentication and the probative value to assign to
 such evidence. However, the fact that such problems may arise, and have to be resolved,
 does not preclude the Office from considering such evidence, nor does it mean that such
 evidence cannot be relied on in a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 . Information in a
 protest should be set forth in the manner required by 37 CFR
 1.291(c) .
 

 The following are examples of the kinds of information, in addition to
 prior art documents, which can be relied on in a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 :
 

 
 (A) Information demonstrating that the invention was publicly known
 or used by others and is barred from patenting under 35 U.S.C.
 102(a)(1) and/or 103 
 or pre-AIA 35
 U.S.C. 102(a) and/or 103 .
 

 (B) Information that the invention was in public use or on sale and
 is barred from patenting under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) or
 pre-AIA 35
 U.S.C. 102(b) .
 

 (C) Information that the inventor “has abandoned the invention”
 ( pre-AIA 35
 U.S.C. 102(c) ) or “did not himself invent the subject matter
 sought to be patented” ( 35 U.S.C. 101 and/or
 pre-AIA 35
 U.S.C. 102(f) ).
 

 (D) Information relating to inventorship under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C.
 102(g) .
 

 (E) Information relating to compliance with 35 U.S.C.
 112 .
 

 (F) Any other information demonstrating that the application lacks
 compliance with the statutory requirements for patentability.
 

 (G) Information indicating “fraud” or “violation of the duty of
 disclosure” under 37 CFR 1.56 may be the subject
 of a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 . Protests raising
 fraud or other inequitable conduct issues will be entered in the application file,
 generally without comment on those issues. 37 CFR 1.291(e) . See
 MPEP §
 2013 .
 

 
 Different forms of evidence may accompany, or be submitted as a part
 of, a protest under 37
 CFR 1.291 . Conventional prior art documents such as patents and
 publications are the most common form of evidence. However, other forms of evidence can
 likewise be submitted. Some representative examples of other forms of evidence are
 litigation-related materials such as complaints, answers, depositions, answers to
 interrogatories, exhibits, transcripts of hearings or trials, court orders and opinions,
 stipulations of the parties, etc. Where only a portion of the litigation-related
 materials is relevant to the protest, protestors are encouraged to submit only the
 relevant portion(s).
 

 In a protest based on an alleged public use or sale, evidence of such
 public use or sale may be submitted along with affidavits or declarations identifying
 the source(s) of the evidence and explaining its relevance and meaning. Such evidence
 might include documents containing offers for sale, orders, invoices, receipts, delivery
 schedules, etc. The Office will make a decision as to whether or not public use or sale
 has been established based on the evidence the Office has available. 
 

 While the forms in which evidence and/or information may be submitted
 with, or as a part of, a protest under 37 CFR 1.291, are not limited,
 protestors must recognize that such submissions may encounter problems such as
 establishing authenticity and/or the probative value to apply to the evidence.
 Obviously, the Office will have to evaluate each item of evidence and/or information
 submitted with a view as to both its authenticity and what weight to give thereto.
 

 Information which is subject to a court-imposed protective or secrecy
 order may be submitted with, or as a part of, a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 .
 Trade secret information which was obtained by a protestor through agreements with
 others can likewise be submitted. Such information, if submitted in accordance with
 MPEP §
 724 , will be treated as set forth therein and will be made
 public if a reasonable examiner would consider the information important in deciding
 whether to allow the application to issue as a patent. To ensure that the Office
 recognizes the protected/secret material, the protestor should follow the procedures in
 MPEP §
 724 .
 

 

 
 1901.03 How Protest Is Submitted [R-10.2019]

 A protest under 37 CFR 1.291 must be submitted in
 writing, must specifically identify the application to which the protest is directed by
 application number or serial number and filing date, and must include an information
 list of all documents, portions of documents, or other information submitted; a concise
 explanation of the relevance of each listed item; an English language translation of any
 non-English language document or other information identified in the information list;
 and be accompanied by a copy of each item in the information list except for U.S.
 patents and U.S. patent application publications. Protestors are encouraged to use form
 PTO/SB/08A and 08B “Information Disclosure Statement By Applicant” (or an equivalent
 form) when preparing a protest under 37 CFR 1.291 , especially the
 information list under 37 CFR 1.291(c)(1) . See MPEP § 609.04(a) . In addition, the
 protest and any accompanying papers must either (1) reflect that a copy of the same has
 been served upon the applicant or upon the applicant’s attorney or agent of record; or
 (2) be filed with the Office in duplicate in the event service is not possible. In the
 event a duplicate protest is enclosed for the applicant, the protest should be
 accompanied by an explanation of why service on applicant could not be made.
 

 Each protest should be clearly identified as a “PROTEST UNDER
 37 CFR
 1.291 .” It is also important that any protest against a pending
 application specifically identify the application to which the protest is directed with
 the identification being as complete as possible. If possible, the following information
 should be placed on the first page of the protest:
 

 
 (A) Name of inventor(s)

 (B) Name of applicant(s).

 (C) Application number.

 (D) Filing date of application.

 (E) Title of invention.

 (F) Art unit number (if known).

 (G) Name of examiner to whom the application is assigned (if
 known).
 

 
 In addition to the above information, if the protest includes exhibits
 or other attachments, these should also contain identifying information thereon in order
 to prevent them from becoming inadvertently separated and lost.
 

 Any protest can be submitted by mail to Mail Stop Petition,
 Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. A protest must NOT
 be submitted electronically via EFS-Web. 
 

 If the protestor is unable to specifically identify the
 application to which the protest is directed by application number, but, nevertheless,
 believes such an application to be pending, the protest should be directed to the
 attention of the Office of Petitions (using Mail Stop Petition), along with as much
 identifying data for the application as possible. Protests which do not adequately
 identify a pending patent application will be returned to the protestor or discarded,
 and will not be further considered by the Office.
 

 Where a protest is directed to a reissue application for a patent which
 is involved in litigation, the outside envelope and the top right-hand portion of the
 protest should be conspicuously marked with the words “REISSUE LITIGATION.” Any “REISSUE
 LITIGATION” protest mailed to the Office should be so marked and mailed to Mail Stop
 Petition, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
 

 I. A PROTEST SUBMISSION MUST BE
 COMPLETE A protest must be complete and contain a copy of every document
 relied on by the protestor, whether the document is a prior art document, court
 litigation material, affidavit, or declaration, etc. A protest not accompanied by a
 copy of each document relied on (except for U.S. patents and U.S. patent application
 publications) will not be entered. A protestor will not be given
 an opportunity to supplement or complete any protest which is incomplete. 
 

 Active participation by protestor ends with the
 filing of the protest, as provided in 37 CFR 1.291(d) , and no further
 submission on behalf of protestor will be acknowledged or considered, unless the
 submission is made pursuant to 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) .
 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(5) requires that any further submission by the same
 party in interest must be directed to significantly different issue(s) than those
 raised in the earlier protest. 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) requires (A)
 an explanation as to how the issue(s) raised are significantly different, (B) why the
 different issue(s) were not presented in the earlier protest, and (C) the processing
 fee under 37 CFR 1.17(i) . Submissions which
 will not be entered in the application file include further submissions in violation
 of 37 CFR
 1.291 by which protestor merely seeks to participate in the
 examination process. For example, mere arguments relating to an Office action or an
 applicant’s reply would not qualify as a new protest. Likewise, additional comments
 seeking to bring in further or even new data or information with respect to an issue
 previously raised by protestor would not qualify as a new protest. The Office will
 not add these arguments or comments to the original protest and will not enter them
 in the application file.
 

 Even new protests which also argue Office actions or replies or any
 matter beyond the new issue should not be accepted. Improper protests will be
 returned to the protestor, or discarded, at the option of the Office.
 37 CFR
 1.291(g) . While improper protests will be returned or
 discarded, a new protest by an earlier protestor will be proper and can be entered if
 it complies with 37
 CFR 1.291(c)(5) . 
 

 Every effort should be made by a protestor to serve a copy of the
 protest upon the attorney or agent of record or upon the applicant if no attorney or
 agent is of record. Of course, the copy served upon applicant or upon applicant’s
 attorney or agent should be a complete copy including a copy of each prior art or
 other document relied on in the same manner as required by 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(3) for the Office copy. The protest filed in the
 Office should reflect, by an appropriate “Certificate of Service,” that service has
 been made as provided in 37 CFR 1.291(b) . Only in those
 instances where service is not possible should the protest be filed in duplicate in
 order that the Office can attempt service. In the event a duplicate protest is
 enclosed for the applicant, the protest should be accompanied by an explanation of
 why service on applicant could not be made.
 

 If the protest filed in the Office does not, however,
 indicate service on applicant or applicant’s attorney or agent, and is not filed in
 duplicate, then the protest will not be entered. If the protest is filed in duplicate
 and otherwise compliant, the Office will forward the protest to the correspondence
 address of record, and the application file should reflect that fact, either by a
 letter transmitting the protest or, if no transmittal letter is used, simply by an
 appropriate notation in the application file history. 
 

 

 
 1901.04 When Can the Protest Be Submitted [R-10.2019]

 Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.291(b) , a protest is timely
 if (1) filed prior to the date the application was published under 37 CFR 1.211 
 or the date a notice of allowance under 37 CFR 1.311 was given or mailed,
 whichever occurs first, or (2) accompanied by written consent of the applicant and filed
 prior to the date a notice of allowance under 37 CFR 1.311 was given or mailed in
 the application. Publication under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) by the World
 Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) of an international application would not
 trigger the end of the 37 CFR 1.291(b) time period for submitting a protest in a
 national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 . Likewise, publication
 under the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of
 Industrial Designs by WIPO of an international registration would not trigger the end of
 the 37 CFR
 1.291(b) time period for submitting a protest in a nonprovisional
 international design application.
 

 As a practical matter, any protest should be submitted
 as soon as possible after the protestor becomes aware of the existence of the
 application to which the protest is to be directed. By submitting a protest early in the
 examination process, i.e., before the Office acts on the application if possible, the
 protestor ensures that the protest will be of the most benefit to the Office in its
 examination of the application. A protest submitted on or after the date a notice of
 allowance under 37 CFR
 1.311 was given or mailed will not be entered and will be
 discarded pursuant to 37 CFR 1.291(g) .
 

 A protest filed after final rejection (and prior to the date the
 notice of allowance is given or mailed) and complying with all the requirements of
 37 CFR
 1.291 will be considered if the application is still pending.
 However, prosecution will not ordinarily be reopened after final rejection if the prior
 art cited in the protest is merely cumulative of the prior art cited in the final
 rejection. 
 

 A protest filed in a reissue application is not a 
 "form of preissuance opposition to the grant of a
 patent"
 
 
 because the patent to be reissued has already been
 granted. Thus, a protest may be filed in a reissue application throughout the pendency
 of the reissue application prior to the date a notice of allowance is given or mailed
 subject to the timing constraint of the examination. A protest with regard to a reissue
 application should, however, be filed within the 2-month period following announcement
 of the filing of the reissue application in the Official Gazette. See
 MPEP §
 1441.01 . If, for some reason, the protest of the reissue
 application cannot be filed within the 2-month period provided by MPEP § 1441 , the
 protest can be submitted at a later time, but the protestor must be aware that reissue
 applications are “special” and a later filed protest may be received after action by the
 examiner. Any request by a protestor in a reissue application for an extension of the
 2-month period following the announcement in the Official Gazette , 
 and a delay of the examination until the extended period expires, will be considered
 only if filed in the form of a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 and accompanied by the
 petition fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(f) . The petition under
 37 CFR
 1.182 and the petition fee must be filed prior to the expiration
 of the 2-month period provided by MPEP § 1441 . The petition must explain
 why the additional time is necessary and the nature of the protest intended. A copy of
 such petition must be served upon applicant in accordance with 37 CFR 1.248 . The
 petition should be directed to the appropriate Technology Center (TC) which will forward
 the petition to the Office of Patent Legal Administration for decision. Any such
 petition will be critically reviewed as to demonstrate need before being granted since
 the delay of examination of a reissue application of another party is being requested.
 Accordingly, the requests should be made only where necessary, for the minimum period
 required, and with a justification establishing the necessity for the extension.
 

 Where a protest of a reissue application is submitted after the 2-month
 period, no petition for entry of the protest under 37 CFR 1.182 is needed with respect
 to the protest being submitted after the 2 months, unless a final rejection has been
 issued or prosecution on the merits has been closed for the reissue application. See
 MPEP §
 1441.01 . In situations where a final rejection has been
 issued, or prosecution on the merits has been otherwise closed, a petition under
 37 CFR
 1.182 along with the petition fee under 37 CFR
 1.17(f) must be submitted with the protest. The petition must
 include an explanation as to why the additional time was necessary and identify the
 nature of the protest submitted. A copy of the petition must be served upon the
 applicant in accordance with 37 CFR 1.248 . The petition should be
 directed to the Office of Petitions.
 

 If the protest is a “REISSUE LITIGATION” protest, it is particularly
 important that it be filed early if protestor wishes it considered at the time the
 Office first acts on the application. Protestors should be aware that the Office will
 entertain petitions from reissue applicants under 37 CFR 1.182 to waive the 2-month
 delay period of MPEP §
 1441 in appropriate circumstances. Accordingly, protestors to
 reissue applications cannot automatically assume that the full 2-month delay period of
 MPEP §
 1441 will always be available. 
 

 

 
 1901.05 Acknowledgment of Protest [R-10.2019]

 A protestor in an original or reissue application will not receive any
 communications from the Office relating to the protest, or to the application, other
 than the return of a self-addressed postcard which protestor may include with the
 protest in order to receive an acknowledgment that the protest has been received by the
 Office. 37 CFR
 1.291(d) . Where a self-addressed postcard is included with the
 protest, the Office will acknowledge receipt of the protest by return of the
 self-addressed postcard. Thus, it is to be noted that the receipt of the self-addressed
 postcard from the Office is not an indication that the protest complies with
 37 CFR
 1.291 .
 

 I. APPLICATIONS AND STATUS THEREOF MAINTAINED IN
 CONFIDENCE The postcard acknowledging receipt of a protest in other than a
 reissue application will not and must not indicate whether such application in fact
 exists or the status of any such application. Office employees must exercise care to
 ensure that matters relating to applications are not discussed
 with protestor or communicated in writing to protestor. See MPEP § 1134 .
 Original applications are, of course, required by 35 U.S.C. 122 to be kept in
 confidence unless published pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 122(b) or are available
 to the public pursuant to 37 CFR 1.14(a)(1)(iv), (v), or
 (vi) . Thus, unless a protestor has been granted access to an
 original application, the protestor is not entitled to obtain from the Office any
 information concerning the same, including the mere fact that such an application
 exists. Petitions for access to patent applications with the exception of
 applications involved in or related to a proceeding before the Patent Trial and
 Appeal Board are decided by the Office of Petitions pursuant to delegation contained
 in MPEP §
 1002.02(b) . Reissue applications filed on, or after, March
 1, 1977 are pursuant to 37 CFR 1.11(b) “open to
 inspection by the public.” After an application is published pursuant to
 35 U.S.C.
 122(b) , the application file contents become available to the
 public through the Office’s public application image file wrapper via the Office's
 website. In addition, a copy of the file content of the published application may be
 requested by filing a written request under 37 CFR 1.14(a)(1)(i) including
 the fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.19(b) . 
 

 The Office will communicate with the applicant regarding any protest
 entered in an application file and may require the applicant to supply information
 pursuant to 37 CFR
 1.291(f) , including replies to specific questions raised by the
 protest, in order for the Office to decide any issues raised thereby. Under
 37 CFR
 1.291(f) , the examiner can require the applicant to reply to
 the protest and answer specific questions raised by the protest. See
 MPEP §
 1901.06 , subsection II.
 

 

 
 1901.06 Office Treatment of Protest [R-10.2019]

 Office practice as defined in 37 CFR 1.291(a) gives recognition to
 the value of the written protests in avoiding the issuance of invalid patents. However,
 the fact that one or more protests has been filed in an application, whether the
 application is an original application or a reissue application, does not relieve the
 examiner from conducting a normal examination on the merits,
 including the required search. Evidence submitted in a protest will be considered on the
 same basis as other ex parte evidence. In re
 Reuter , 651 F.2d 751, 758, 210 USPQ 249, 255 (CCPA 1981).
 

 I. INITIAL REVIEW Protests will not be automatically made of record in an application.
 The Office has designated points of contact and established procedures for reviewing
 protests to determine if they are compliant with the relevant provisions of
 37 CFR
 1.291 before being made of record in an application. These
 procedures permit compliant protests to be entered into the record of the application
 and made available to the examiner for consideration as early as possible.
 

 If a compliant protest is filed in a reissue application and the
 reissue application is related to a patent involved in a pending interference or
 derivation proceeding, such application should be referred to the Office of Patent
 Legal Administration before the examiner considers the protest and acts on the
 application.
 

 37 CFR 1.291(g) provides that a
 protest that fails to comply with 37 CFR 1.291(b) or (c) may not be
 entered. A protest that is non-compliant with some requirement of 37 CFR 1.291(b) or
 (c) , may be entered into the record if the reviewer determines
 that the error is of such a minor character that, in the opinion of the Office, it
 does not raise an ambiguity as to the content of the protest. For example, if an
 error with respect to a requirement of 37 CFR 1.291(c) is of such a
 nature that the content of the protest can still be readily ascertained (e.g., a U.S.
 patent is identified by the correct patent number and issue date but the name of the
 first named inventor is clearly misspelled), the Office may have enough information
 to be able to enter the protest into the record despite the error. However, the
 determination of whether to enter or not to enter a protest that partially complies
 with a requirement of 37 CFR 1.291(b) or (c) will be
 made on a case-by-case basis and at the sole discretion of the Office (e.g., the
 Office may decline to enter a protest listing a U.S. patent whose patent number does
 not match Office records with respect to that patent number’s issue date and/or first
 named inventor). In any event, the Office will either enter or not enter the entire
 protest and will not attempt to enter portions of partially compliant protests,
 except as noted in the paragraph below.
 

 In the unlikely event an examiner believes a protest
 is non-compliant, the examiner should immediately consult the reviewer of the protest
 or other appropriate Technology Center point of contact. If as a result of such
 consultation it is determined that the examiner should not consider a listed
 document, the examiner should strike through the document to indicate that the
 examiner did not consider either the document or its accompanying concise
 explanation. In some instances, the stricken document may be cited by the examiner on
 a form PTO-892. 
 

 II. PERIOD FOR COMMENTS BY APPLICANT If the Office’s initial review reveals that the protest is ready for
 consideration during the examination, the examiner may nevertheless consider it
 desirable, or necessary, to obtain applicant’s comments on the protest before further
 action. In such situations, the examiner will offer applicant an opportunity to file
 comments within a set period, usually 1 month, unless circumstances warrant a longer
 period.
 

 Form paragraph 19.01 can be used to offer applicant
 an opportunity to file comments on the protest.
 

 ¶ 19.01 Period for Comments on Protest by Applicant

 A protest against issuance of a patent based upon this application has been filed under 37 CFR 1.291(a) on [1] , and a copy [2] . Any comments or reply applicant desires to file before consideration of the protest must be filed by [3] .
 

 Examiner Note:
 
 1. Applicant is normally given one month to submit any comments, unless circumstances in the case would warrant a longer period.

 2. A copy of this Office action is NOT sent to the protestor. See 37 CFR 1.291(d) .
 

 3. In bracket 2, insert either-- has been served on applicant-- or-- is attached hereto--.
 
 

 Where necessary or desirable to decide questions raised by the
 protest, under 37
 CFR 1.291(f) the primary examiner can require the applicant to
 reply to the protest and answer specific questions raised by the protest. The primary
 examiner cannot require a reply to questions relating to “fraud,” “inequitable
 conduct,” or “violation of the duty of disclosure” since those issues are generally
 not commented on by the Office. Any questions directed to applicant by the primary
 examiner must be limited to seeking answers reasonably necessary in order for the
 primary examiner to decide questions raised by the protest and which are before the
 primary examiner for decision. The primary examiner is not permitted, under
 37 CFR
 1.291(f) , to seek answers to questions which are not before the
 primary examiner for decision.
 

 Form paragraph 19.02 can be used to require
 additional information from applicant regarding issues raised by the protest.
 

 ¶ 19.02 Requirement for Information

 The protest under 37 CFR 1.291 filed on [1] has
 been considered. In order to reach a full and proper consideration of the issues raised
 therein, it is necessary to obtain additional information from applicant regarding these
 issues. In particular [2] . The failure to reply to this requirement for
 information within a shortened statutory period of TWO (2) MONTHS of the mailing
 date of this requirement will result in abandonment of the application. This time period may
 be extended under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136 but in no case can any
 extension carry the date for reply to this letter beyond the maximum period of SIX MONTHS set
 by statute ( 35 U.S.C.
 133 ).
 

 Examiner Note:

 While the examiner normally should not need further information from applicant, this form paragraph may be used to request
 specific additional information from the applicant. 
 

 
 III. EXAMINER MUST NOT COMMUNICATE WITH
 PROTESTOR The examiner must not communicate with protestor in any way even if
 the protest is incomplete or the protestor inquires as to the status of any Office
 proceedings related to the protest. See 37 CFR 1.291 . In addition, the
 examiner will not consider a later submission by protestor, unless such submission
 complies with 37
 CFR 1.291(c)(5) (see MPEP § 1901.07 ). Improper protests
 will be returned to the protestor, or discarded, at the option of the Office. See
 37 CFR
 1.291(g) .
 

 IV. EXAMINER TREATMENT OF AN ENTERED
 PROTEST If the protest has been reviewed and entered into the record of the
 application in time to permit consideration by the examiner during prosecution, the
 examiner must consider (A) each of the prior art or other documents submitted in
 conformance with 37
 CFR 1.291(c) and any discussion of such documents in the
 protest, and (B) any non-prior art issue(s) raised by the protest that are
 appropriate for consideration by the primary examiner, and the information supplied
 as to the same. 
 

 At least those prior art documents which the examiner relies on in
 rejecting claims will be made of record by means of form PTO-892, unless the
 protestor has listed such prior art or other documents on form PTO/SB/08A and 08B (or
 an acceptable substitute as provided by MPEP § 609.04(a) ), in which case the
 examiner will place the examiner’s initials adjacent to the citations in the boxes
 provided on the form PTO/SB/08A and 08B (see MPEP § 609.04(a) ). Where the prior
 art or other documents have not been cited on a PTO-892, or listed and initialed on a
 PTO/SB/08A and 08B, the examiner will place a notation in the protest paper adjacent
 to the reference to the documents. The notation should include the examiner’s
 initials and the term “checked.” The examiner will also indicate in the next Office
 action that all documents submitted have been considered.
 

 V. PROTEST FILED ON OR AFTER PUBLICATION OF THE
 APPLICATION A. Without the Written Consent of
 Applicant If a protest is submitted on or after the date the application is
 published under 37 CFR 1.211 and is not
 accompanied by the written consent of the applicant, it will not be entered in the
 application file. 
 

 B. With the Written Consent of
 Applicant 35 U.S.C. 122(c) permits the filing of a protest in an
 application after the application has been published if there is express written
 consent of the applicant. In order to file a protest after publication of a patent
 application, 37
 CFR 1.291(b)(1) requires that the protest be accompanied by
 the written consent of the applicant and be filed prior to the date the notice of
 allowance under 37 CFR 1.311 is given or mailed. The written consent should
 indicate that applicant is consenting to the specific protest being submitted.
 Applicant may choose to provide a blanket consent to: any protests filed; protests
 filed by a particular real party in interest; a single protest by a particular
 party in interest (e.g., a protest that party Smith has informed me that he will
 be submitting during the week of November 26 th ); a
 protest involving a particular item of prior art; or a particular protest that has
 been reviewed and applicant is willing to have considered by the Office. Where
 applicant consents to a protest, the Office will abide by the terms of the
 consent, and will enter the protest only if (A) the protest submitted is within
 the scope of the consent, and (B) the protest complies with the requirements of
 37 CFR
 1.291(b) and (c) . If a properly consented to protest does
 not comply with some of the requirements of 37 CFR 1.291(b) or (c) , the
 Office may choose to consider a piece of prior art permitted under the terms of
 the consent.
 

 VI. CONSIDERATION OF PROTESTOR’S
 ARGUMENTS In view of the value of written protests, the examiner must give
 careful consideration to the points and arguments made on behalf of the protestor.
 Any Office action by the examiner treating the merits of a timely submitted protest
 complying with 37
 CFR 1.291(c) must specifically consider and make evident by
 detailed reasoning the examiner’s position as to the major arguments and points
 raised by the protestor, except for issues related to inequitable conduct. The
 examiner will not, under any circumstances, treat or discuss those arguments or
 points directed to “fraud,” “violation of duty of disclosure,” or other inequitable
 conduct issues. See 37 CFR 1.291(e) . While it is not necessary for the examiner to
 respond to each and every minute argument or point, the major arguments and points,
 except those concerning inequitable conduct, must be specifically covered. 
 

 VII. RESULTS OF CONSIDERATION REPORTED TO TECHNOLOGY
 CENTER (TC) DIRECTOR After the examiner has considered the protest, the examiner will
 report the results of such consideration to the TC Director.
 

 

 
 1901.07 Protestor Participation [R-10.2019]

 37 CFR
 1.291 does not permit protestor, or any other member of the
 public, to contact or receive information from the Office as to the disposition or
 status of the protest, or the application to which it is directed, or to participate in
 any Office proceedings relating to the protest. The Office does not serve copies of
 Office actions or other documents mailed by the Office on protestors, and does not
 require applicants to serve copies of papers filed with the Office on protestors.
 Furthermore, a protestor is not permitted to participate in interviews, appeal a
 decision by the examiner adverse to the protestor to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board,
 or participate in an appeal by applicant. The disposition of the protest will be an
 ex parte matter between the Office and the applicant. Where
 protestor has access to an application, for example, a reissue application which is open
 to the public and may be inspected under 37 CFR 1.11 , the proceedings may
 thereby be monitored.
 

 
 1901.07(a) Filing of Multiple Papers Relating to Same
 Issues [R-10.2019]
 

 Under 37 CFR 1.291(d) , protestor
 participation ends with the filing of the protest, and protestor will not be allowed
 to complete any protest that is incomplete. 37 CFR 1.291(c) does not provide
 for the submission of additional protests in the same application by the same real
 party in interest except for submissions filed in accordance with 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(5) . Multiple piecemeal protests (raising a slightly
 different issue in each protest submission) in a single application by the same real
 party in interest are not permitted. After the filing of the protest, no further
 submission of prior art by the same real party in interest will be considered, except
 for new, non-cumulative prior art submitted under the conditions of 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(5) . 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) requires that
 a second or subsequent protest by the same real party in interest include:
 

 
 (A) an explanation as to why the issue(s) raised in the second or
 subsequent protest are significantly different than those raised earlier;
 

 
 
 (B) an explanation as to why the significantly different issue(s)
 were not earlier presented; and
 

 
 
 (C) the processing fee under 37 CFR
 1.17(i) .
 

 
 Significantly different issue(s) may be raised by the submission of
 new, non-cumulative prior art or other information not previously made of record.
 Additional comments seeking to bring in further or even new data or information with
 respect to an issue previously raised by the same real party in interest would not
 qualify as a significantly different issue. By imposing requirements for second or
 subsequent protests on 
 "the same real party in
 interest,"
 
 
 the requirements of 37 CFR
 1.291(c)(5) cannot be avoided by multiple protests submitted by
 different people representing the same real party in interest. 
 

 Second or subsequent protest by the same real party in interest that
 do not comply with 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) will not be entered in the intended
 application and will be returned to the protestor, or discarded, at the option of the
 Office. 37 CFR
 1.291(g) .
 

 An examiner will consider a compliant second or subsequent protest
 filed on behalf of the same real party in interest (subject to the time frames set
 forth in 37 CFR
 1.291(b) , the caveat that the protest can be timely matched and
 considered prior to the date the notice of allowance under 37 CFR 1.311 is
 given or mailed, and the content requirements of 37 CFR 1.291(c)(1) to (4) ), if
 the second or subsequent protest complies with 37 CFR 1.291(c)(5) .
 

 

 

 [top] 

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 1901-Protest Under 37 CFR 1.291 
 1901.01-Who Can Protest 

 1901.02-Information Which Can Be Relied on in Protest 

 1901.03-How Protest Is Submitted 

 1901.04-When Can the Protest Be Submitted 

 1901.05-Acknowledgment of Protest 

 1901.06-Office Treatment of Protest 

 1901.07-Protestor Participation 
 1901.07(a)-Filing of Multiple Papers Relating to Same Issues 

 
 

 
 

 1902‑1905-[Reserved] 

 1906-Supervisory Review of an Examiner’s Decision Adverse to Protestor 

 1907-Unauthorized Participation by Protestor 

 1908‑1919-[Reserved] 

 1920-Citation of Prior Art Under 37 CFR 1.501(a) 

 

 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 

 

 
 
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