This document contains summaries of several patent reissue applications. It discusses the timing requirements for filing broadening reissue applications under 35 U.S.C. § 251, and exceptions allowing a reissue application to be filed without an oath/declaration or fees. For example, a broadening reissue application must be filed within two years of the original patent grant to avoid statutory bars, but the oath/declaration and fees can be filed later under the provisions of 37 CFR § 1.53(f) and MPEP § 1410.01.

1. REISSUE

2. APRIL 2003
MORNING – AFTERNOON

3. 11. ANSWER:(E) is the most correctanswer.(A) and(C) can be correctedby a certificate of Correction.
MPEP § 1481. (D) can be correctedby a Certificate of Correction.37CFR § 1.324; MPEP § 1481. (B) is
incorrect.Sucha mistake,whichaffectsthe scope andmeaningof the claimsinapatent,isnot
consideredtobe of the “minor” characterrequiredforissuance of a Certificate of Correction.MPEP§
1481.

4. 13. ANSWER:(C) isthe mostcorrect. See MPEP § 1412.02, Recapture.Asto(A),recapture occurswhen
the claimis broadened.Addingalimitationwouldnarrow the claim.Asto(B),recapture doesnotapply
to continuations.Asto(D),the two-yeardate relatestobroadeningreissue applications,nottothe issue
of recapture.35 U.S.C. 251 prescribesa2-yearlimitforfilingapplicationsforbroadeningreissues:“No
reissue patentshall be grantedenlargingthe scope of the original patentunlessappliedforwithintwo
yearsfrom the grant of the original patent.”(E) isincorrectbecause a(C) iscorrect.

5. 6. ANSWER: (C) isthe most correct answer.See MPEP§ 1411.01. Asto (A) see MPEP § 1402. A reissue
patentisnot granted.Asto (B),newmattermay not be enteredinareissue.Asto(D) see MPEP §
1412.03. Since (A),and(B) are incorrect,(E) is incorrect.

6. 14. ANSWER:(C) isthe mostcorrect answer.Answers(A),(D) and(E) are incorrectbecause a broadening
reissue applicationmustbe filedwithintwoyearsof issuance of the original patent.35 U.S.C.§ 251;
MPEP § 1412.03. Answer(B) isincorrectbecause the assignee maynotfile abroadeningreissue
application.MPEP§ 706.03(x).

7. OCTOBER 2003
MORNING – AFTERNOON

8. 16. ANSWER:(A) isthe most correct answer.35 U.S.C. § 251, MPEP § 1402 (fifth paragraph).MPEP§
1402 statesthat one of the “mostcommonbasesfor filingareissue application[is] (A) the claimsare
too narrowor too broad.” The claimsmay be broadenedinareissue applicationfiledbythe inventor
withintwoyearsfromthe patentissue date.(B) isincorrectsince the 4th paragraph of 35 U.S.C. § 251
statesthat no reissuedpatentshallbe grantedenlargingthe scope of the clamsof the original patent
unlessappliedforwithintwoyearsfromthe grantof the original patent.(C) and(E) are incorrect.MPEP
§ 1402, sixteenthparagraph.Anapplicant’sfailuretotimelyfile adivisionalapplicationwhilethe original
applicationisstill pendingisnotconsideredtobe anerror correctable viareissue.See Inre Orita,550
F.2d 1277, 1280, 193 USPQ 145, 148 (CCPA 1977). (D) isincorrect.MPEP § 201.06. Inorder to claim
benefitunder35U.S.C. § 120 to a parentapplication,adivisional applicationmustbe filedwhilethe
parentpatentapplicationisstill pending.

9. 2. ANSWER: (D) isthe mostcorrect answer.MPEP§§ 1403 and 1412.03, underthe heading“WhenA
BroadenedClaimCanBe Presented.”A broadeningreissue claimmustbe filedwithinthe twoyearsfrom
the grant of the original patent.(D) isthe mostcorrect and the examiner shouldexaminethe case asany
otherapplicationandaddressappropriate issuesconcerningreissue examination.See Switzerv.
Sockman,333 F.2d 935, 142 USPQ 226 (CCPA 1964) (a similarrule ininterferences).Since applicantfiled
the amendmentbyExpressMail,the amendmentistreatedasbeingfiledwiththe USPTOonthe date of
depositwiththe USPostal Service.Therefore,(A),(B) and(C) are incorrectanswers.A reissue
applicationcanbe granteda filingdate withoutanoathor declaration,orwithoutthe filingfeebeing
present.See 37 CFR § 1.53(f). Applicantwillbe givenaperiodof time toprovide the missingpartsandto
pay the surcharge under37 CFR § 1.16(e).See MPEP § 1410.01. Choice (E) isnot correct since the mere
deletionof anelementof aclaimdoesnot automaticallyraise agroundof rejectionbasedonthe
recapture doctrine.See MPEP§ 1412.02.

10. 11. ANSWER:(E) is the most correctanswer.35 U.S.C.§ 251; 37 CFR § 1.53(f); MPEP § 1403. Filinga
broadenedreissueapplicationwithatleastone broadeningclaimpriortothe expirationof the two-year
time periodsetinthe statute satisfiesthe diligenceprovisionsof 35U.S.C. § 251. The executedreissue
oath/declarationandthe filingfee maybe filedata latertime.AccordingtoMPEP § 1403, a reissue
applicationcanbe granteda filingdate withoutanoathor declaration,orwithoutthe filingfeebeing
present.See 37 CFR § 1.53(f). The reissue applicantwill be givenaperiodof time toprovide the missing
parts and to paythe surcharge under37 CFR § 1.16(e).See MPEP § 1410.01. (A),(B) and (D) are clearly
incorrectsince the inventorsandassignee wouldbe barredfromabroadeningreissueif filedafterthe
twoyear periodsetinthe statute.(C) isincorrectsince the reissue applicationwasfiledwithoutatleast
one broadeningclaimpriortothe expirationof the two-yeartime periodsetin35 U.S.C.§ 251.