2421.03 Notification of a Failure to Comply [R-07.2015]
With respect to the Office’s determination of compliance with the sequence rules and the opportunities afforded applicants to satisfy the requirements of the rules, applicants will be notified of easily detectable deficiencies early in the application process. Applicants whose computer readable forms are not readable, or are missing mandatory elements, will be notified shortly after receipt of the application by the Office. Applications filed on or after November 29, 2000, will be retained in the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) until any noncompliant sequence listing that renders an application unsuitable for examination is corrected.
OPAP will mail a Notice to Comply With Requirements For Patent Applications Containing Nucleotide Sequence And/Or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures to applicant listing the requirements that have not been met and setting a two month time period within which to comply with the sequence rules, 37 CFR 1.821 - 1.825. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in abandonment of the application under 37 CFR 1.821(g). Extension of time may be obtained by filing a petition accompanied by the extension fee under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136.
Patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111 on or after December 18, 2013, and international patent applications in which the national stage commenced under 35 U.S.C. 371 on or after December 18, 2013, may be subject to reductions in patent terms adjustment pursuant to 37 CFR 1.704(c)(13) if they are not in condition for examination within eight months from the filing date or date of commencement, respectively. "In condition for examination" includes compliance with 37 CFR 1.821 -1.825 (see 37 CFR 1.704(f) ). Deficiencies of a more sophisticated nature will likely only be detected by the examiner to whom the application is assigned. Applicant will be notified of any errors or inconsistencies detected by the examiner in the next Office action.
A notification of a failure to comply with the sequence rules will be accompanied by an analysis of any submitted computer readable form. Any inquiries regarding a specific computer readable form that has been processed by the Office should be directed to the Sequence Systems Service Center of the Scientific and Technical Information Center at 571-272-2510 or via email at STIC-SSSCHelpdesk@uspto.gov.