1004 Actions Which Require the Attention of a Primary Examiner [R-07.2015]
Existing practice requires the primary examiner to be personally responsible for the following actions:
1. Allowances (MPEP § 1302.13).
2. Examiner’s amendments (MPEP § 1302.04).
3. Quayle actions (MPEP § 714.14).
4. Final rejections (MPEP § 706.07).
5. Final Office actions containing a final requirement for restriction (MPEP § 803.01).
6. Withdrawal of final rejection (MPEP §§ 706.07(d) and 706.07(e)).
7. Actions on amendments submitted after final rejection (MPEP § 714.12).
8. All examiner’s answers on appeal (MPEP § 1207).
9. Actions reopening prosecution (MPEP § 1214.07).
10. Entry of amendments under 37 CFR 1.312 that are directed merely to formal matters or the cancellation of claims (MPEP § 714.16).
11. Rejection of a previously allowed claim (MPEP § 706.04).
12. Holding of abandonment for insufficient reply (MPEP § 711.03(a)).
13. Decision on affidavits or declarations (for example, under 37 CFR 1.130(a) (MPEP § 717.01(a) et seq. ), 37 CFR 1.130(b) (MPEP § 717.01(b) et seq. ), 37 CFR 1.131(a) (MPEP § 715.08), 37 CFR 1.131(c) (MPEP § 718), or 37 CFR 1.132 (MPEP § 716)).
14. First request for suspension of examiner’s action (MPEP § 709).
15. Decision on reissue oath or declaration (MPEP § 1414).
16. International Preliminary Examination Reports (MPEP § 1879).
17. Classification of allowed cases (MPEP § 903.07).
18. Treatment of newly filed application which obviously fails to comply with 35 U.S.C. 112 (MPEP § 702.01).
19. Consideration of the advisability of a patentability report (MPEP § 705.01(a)).
20. Requests filed prior to September 16, 2012 under 37 CFR 1.48 for correction of inventorship or to accept amendments, statements, or oaths or declarations under 37 CFR 1.48 (MPEP § 602.01(c)(3)).
21. Actions suggesting claims for interference purposes (MPEP §§ 2304.04, 2304.04(b)). Note that the examiner should consult with a Technology Center Practice Specialist (TCPS), MPEP § 2304.04.
22. Actions involving copied patent claims (MPEP § 2304.04(b).
23. Suggesting an interference (MPEP § 2304.04).
24. Calling Administrative Patent Judge’s attention to a discovered reference which makes a claim corresponding to a count unpatentable.
For matters decided by supervisory patent examiners, see MPEP § 1002.02(d).
For a list of actions that are to be submitted to the Technology Center Directors, see MPEP §§ 1002.02(c) and 1003.