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1415    Reissue Application and Issue Fees

MPEP SECTION SUMMARY

This section covers the reissue application filing, search, and examination fees. In addition, it also briefly touches on the application size fee and excess claims fees along with potential refunds.


I.   BASIC REISSUE APPLICATION FILING, SEARCH, AND EXAMINATION FEES

For reissue applications, the following fees are required: basic filing fee; search fee; examination fee; application size fee, if applicable; and excess claims fees.

The basic filing, search and examination fees are due on filing of the reissue application.

  • These fees may be paid on a date later than the filing date of the reissue application provided they are paid within the time period set forth in 37 CFR 1.53(f) and include the surcharge.

For reissue applications in which a petition under 37 CFR 1.138(d) to expressly abandon the application was filed applicant may file a request for refund of the search fee and excess claims fee paid in the application.


II.   APPLICATION SIZE FEE

The application size fee applies for each additional 50 sheets or fraction thereof over 100 sheets of paper.


III.   EXCESS CLAIMS FEES

For reissue applications filed on or after December 8, 2004, in which a petition under 37 CFR 1.138(d) to expressly abandon the application was filed on or after March 10, 2006, applicant may file a request for refund of the search fee and excess claims fee paid in the application.

The number of claims in the original patent is not relevant in determining the excess claims fee for a reissue application.

Applicant filed a reissue application with the same number of claims as in the patent. The patent has 4 independent claims and 21 total claims. Excess claims fees for the 4th independent claim (one additional independent claim per the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(h)) and the 21st claim (one additional total claim per the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(i)) are required. Under 37 CFR 1.16(h) and (i) , the number of claims in the original patent is not relevant in determining the excess claims fees for a reissue application.

 

1415.01   Maintenance Fees on the Original Patent

MPEP SECTION SUMMARY

This section covers the maintenance fees on the original patent. Essentially, the maintenance fee schedule does not change on the original patent by filing a reissue application.

The filing of a reissue application does not alter the schedule of payments of maintenance fees on the original patent.

  • If maintenance fees have not been paid on the original patent, and the patent has expired, no reissue patent can be granted.


I.   PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES WHERE THE PATENT HAS BEEN REISSUED

Maintenance fees are not required for a reissue patent if the original patent that was reissued did not require maintenance fees.

  • Design and plant patents do not require the payment of maintenance fees.
  • Where the original patent that was reissued did require maintenance fees, the schedule of payments of maintenance fees on the original patent will continue for the reissue patent.

 

» 1416  No Physical Surrender of Original Patent