35 U.S.C. § 304

Reexamination order by Director

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If, in a determination made under the provisions of subsection 303(a), the Director finds that a substantial new question of patentability affecting any claim of a patent is raised, the determination will include an order for reexamination of the patent for resolution of the question. The patent owner will be given a reasonable period, not less than two months from the date a copy of the determination is given or mailed to him, within which he may file a statement on such question, including any amendment to his patent and new claim or claims he may wish to propose, for consideration in the reexamination. If the patent owner files such a statement, he promptly will serve a copy of it on the person who has requested reexamination under the provisions of section 302. Within a period of two months from the date of service, that person may file and have considered in the reexamination a reply to any statement filed by the patent owner. That person promptly will serve on the patent owner a copy of any reply filed.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 34 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1983–2025 · leading case: In Re Berwyn E. Etter, 756 F.2d 852 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
In Re Berwyn E. Etter, 756 F.2d 852 (Fed. Cir. 1985). · cites it 3× “§ 303 , which requires the Commissioner to determine whether “a substantia] new question of patentability” has been raised, and in 35 U.S.C. § 304 , which provides for initiation of reexamination by the Commissioner sua sponte.”
Ethicon, Inc. v. Donald J. Quigg, Comm'r of Patents & Trademarks & the United States Pat. & Trademark Off., 849 F.2d 1422 (Fed. Cir. 1988). · cites it 2× “In August, USSC filed its statement on the PTO’s decision to initiate a reexamination in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 304 , and Ethicon filed a reply.”
Quad Env't Tech. Corp. v. Union Sanitary Dist., & A.P.T., Inc., a California Corp. D/B/A Calvert Env't, Inc., 946 F.2d 870 (Fed. Cir. 1991). · cites it 2× “Quad responded to the Reexamination Order pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 304 , 4 and *873 filed proposed amendments to some of the claims, to distinguish the newly cited references.”
Syntex (u.s.a.) Inc. v. U.S. Pat. & Trademark Off., 882 F.2d 1570 (Fed. Cir. 1989). · cites it 3× “35 U.S.C. § 304 (1982); 37 C.F.R. § 1.530 (1988).”
MercExchange, L.L.C. v. eBay, Inc., 500 F. Supp. 2d 556 (E.D. Va. 2007). “Tellingly, the PTO only grants a patent reexamination after objectively finding “that a substantial new question of patentability” exists, 35 U.S.C. § 304 , and here, not only has the PTO granted a reexamination request, but it has previously issued two interim actions rejecting…”
Cardpool, Inc. v. Plastic Jungle, Inc., 817 F.3d 1316 (Fed. Cir. 2016). “Before that appeal was decided, in June 2013 Cardpool filed a request for ex parte reexamination in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 304 . For reexamination, Card-pool presented both amended and additional claims, in accordance with 37 C.”
Plumley v. Mockett, 836 F. Supp. 2d 1053 (C.D. Cal. 2010). “See 35 U.S.C. § 304 (requiring PTO director to issue a reexamination order upon finding “a substantial new question of patentability”).”
Lockwood v. Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton, 173 Cal. App. 4th 675 (Cal. Ct. App. 2009). “( 35 U.S.C. § 304 .) At the conclusion of the reexamination, the USPTO issues a certificate canceling any claim of the patent determined to be unpatentable, confirming any claim determined to be patentable, and incorporating in the patent any proposed amended or new claim…”
Patlex Corp., Inc. v. Mossinghoff, 585 F. Supp. 713 (E.D. Pa. 1983). · cites it 2× “35 U.S.C. § 304 ; 37 C.F.R. § 1.525 . Within a period of not less than two months after the reexamination order, the patent owner may file a statement discussing new questions of patentability and other issues he deems appropriate.”
The Laitram Corp. v. Nec Corp., Nec Info. Sys., Inc., & Sears, Roebuck & Co., 952 F.2d 1357 (Fed. Cir. 1992). “The issue certified on this appeal requires determination of whether, as a matter of law, a claim is deemed substantively changed when it is amended on reexamination following a rejection based on prior art.”
Ball Corp., Plaintiff-Appellant/cross-Appellee v. Xidex Corp. & Dysan Corp., Defendants-Appellees/cross-Appellants, 967 F.2d 1440 (10th Cir. 1992). “35 U.S.C. § 304 . The requester then may file a reply to the statement of the patent owner.”
John H. Bruning v. Ryusho Hirose, 161 F.3d 681 (Fed. Cir. 1998). “Second, an interference arises from a priority dispute, rather than from a patentability issue or patent defect.”
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