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2282 Notification of Existence of Prior or Concurrent Proceedings and Decisions Thereon [R-5] - 2200 Citation of Prior Art and Ex Parte Reexamination of Patents
2282 Notification of Existence of Prior or Concurrent Proceedings and Decisions Thereon [R-5]
37 CFR 1.565 Concurrent office proceedings which include an ex parte reexamination proceeding.
(a) In an ex parte reexamination proceeding before the Office, the patent owner must inform the Office of any prior or concurrent proceedings in which the patent is or was involved such as interferences, reissues, ex parte reexaminations, inter partes reexaminations, or litigation and the results of such proceedings. See § 1.985 for notification of prior or concurrent proceedings in an inter partes reexamination proceeding.
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It is important for the Office to be aware of any prior or concurrent proceedings in which a patent undergoing ex parte reexamination is or was involved, such as interferences, reissues, inter partes reexaminations, other ex parte reexaminations or litigations, and any results of such proceedings. In accordance with 37 CFR 1.565(a), the patent owner is required to provide the Office with information regarding the existence of any such proceedings, and the results thereof, if known. Ordinarily, no submissions of any kind by third parties filed after the date of the order are entered into the reexamination or patent file while the reexamination proceeding is pending. However, in order to ensure a complete file, with updated status information regarding prior or concurrent proceedings regarding the patent under reexamination, the Office will, at any time, accept from any parties, for entry into the reexamination file, copies of notices of suits and other proceedings involving the patent and copies of decisions or papers filed in the court from litigations or other proceedings involving the patent. >It is to be noted that if the Office, in its sole discretion, deems the volume of the papers filed from litigations or other proceedings to be too extensive/lengthy, the Office may return all or part of the submission. In such an instance, a party may limit the submission in accordance with what is deemed relevant, and resubmit the papers.< Persons making such submissions must limit the submissions to the notification, and must not include further arguments or information. Where a submission is not limited to bare notice of the prior or concurrent proceedings (in which a patent undergoing reexamination is or was involved), the submission will be returned by the Office. >It is to be understood that highlighting of certain text by underlining, fluorescent marker, etc., goes beyond bare notice of the prior or concurrent proceedings.<
Any proper submission pursuant to 37 CFR 1.565(a) will be promptly entered into the record of the reexamination file, and will be considered by the examiner as to its content, when the proceeding comes up for action on the merits. Thus, for example, if the patent owner properly files in a reexamination proceeding, pursuant to 37 CFR 1.565(a), an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) that was submitted by a third party in the discovery stage of litigation of the patent being reexamined, the IDS would be entered into the reexamination file and considered by the examiner, the next time the proceeding comes up for action on the merits. See MPEP § 2286 for Office investigation for prior or concurrent litigation.
Form paragraph 22.07 or 22.08, if appropriate, may be used to remind the patent owner of the continuing duty under 37 CFR 1.565(a) to apprise the Office of any litigation activity.
¶ 22.07 Litigation Reminder (Patent Owner Request or Director Ordered Reexamination)
The patent owner is reminded of the continuing responsibility under 37 CFR 1.565(a), to apprise the Office of any litigation activity, or other prior or concurrent proceeding, involving Patent No. [1] throughout the course of this reexamination proceeding. See MPEP §§ 2207, 2282 and 2286.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph is to be used when granting an ex parte reexamination request filed by a patent owner and in the first action in a Director Ordered reexamination.
¶ 22.08 Litigation Reminder (Third Party Requester)
The patent owner is reminded of the continuing responsibility under 37 CFR 1.565(a), to apprise the Office of any litigation activity, or other prior or concurrent proceeding, involving Patent No. [1] throughout the course of this reexamination proceeding. The third party requester is also reminded of the ability to similarly apprise the Office of any such activity or proceeding throughout the course of this reexamination proceeding. See MPEP §§ 2207, 2282 and 2286.
Examiner Note
This form paragraph is to be used when granting an ex parte reexamination request filed by a third party requester.
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