2008年9月2日 星期二

Request for Continued Examination (RCE)

Request for Continued Examination (RCE)
當專利申請案遭遇最終核駁時,會有幾種狀況:(1)沒有克服前次核駁理由,全部Claims皆被核駁;(2)沒有完全克服前次核駁理由,部分可核准;(3)因為前次答辯內容產生新的事證(new issue),審查委員判斷需要重啟檢索/審查等。

此時申請人可以能應用幾種接續的救濟程序,其中最常用的應該就是請求接續審查(Request for Continued Examination),並提出新的答辯意見或修正,希望能透過新的審查程序克服核駁理由。

如此圖所示,程序進入Final Office Action之後,申請人可提出RCE,讓申請案繼續審理,並又收到non-Final rejection


以下就是提出RCE時的申請文件所擷取的畫面,說明依照37 CFR 1.114規定提出


但是不久後,會收到審查委員的回應,同樣仍會是下一次的First Office Action,並於開卷第一段說明收到在Final rejection後的RCE請求



另外,順便引述CFR中規定提出RCE的時機:
§1.114 Request for continued examination.
(a) If prosecution in an application is closed (包括收到核准通知、訴願中、與收到final OA等), an applicant may request continued examination of the application by filing a submission and the fee set forth in § 1.17(e) prior to the earliest of:
(1) Payment of the issue fee, unless a petition under § 1.313 is granted; (issue fee付出前可提出RCE)
(2) Abandonment of the application; or (申請案拋棄前)
(3) The filing of a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit under 35 U.S.C. 141, or the commencement of a civil action under 35 U.S.C. 145 or 146, unless the appeal or civil action is terminated. (對法院提出訴願通知前,或民事訴訟開始前)

Ron

沒有留言: