2731    Period of Adjustment [R-11.2013]

37 C.F.R. 1.703   Period of adjustment of patent term due to examination delay.

  • (a) The period of adjustment under § 1.702(a)  is the sum of the following periods:

    • (1) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is fourteen months after the date on which the application was filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)  or the date the national stage commenced under 35 U.S.C. 371(b)  or (f)  in an international application and ending on the date of mailing of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first;
    • (2) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date a reply under § 1.111  was filed and ending on the date of mailing of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first;
    • (3) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date a reply in compliance with § 1.113(c)  was filed and ending on the date of mailing of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first;
    • (4) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date an appeal brief in compliance with § 41.37  was filed and ending on the date of mailing of any of an examiner’s answer under § 41.39, an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first;
    • (5) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date of a final decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board or by a Federal court in an appeal under 35 U.S.C. 141  or a civil action under 35 U.S.C. 145  or 146  where at least one allowable claim remains in the application and ending on the date of mailing of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132  or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first; and
    • (6) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date the issue fee was paid and all outstanding requirements were satisfied and ending on the date a patent was issued.
  • (b) The period of adjustment under § 1.702(b)  is the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is three years after the date on which the application was filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)  or the national stage commenced under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f)  in an international application and ending on the date a patent was issued, but not including the sum of the following periods:

    • (1) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date on which a request for continued examination of the application under 35 U.S.C. 132(b)  was filed and ending on the date the patent was issued;
    • (2)
      • (i) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date an interference or derivation proceeding was instituted to involve the application in the interference or derivation proceeding under 35 U.S.C. 135(a)  and ending on the date that the interference or derivation proceeding was terminated with respect to the application; and
      • (ii) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date prosecution in the application was suspended by the Office due to interference or derivation proceedings under 35 U.S.C. 135(a)  not involving the application and ending on the date of the termination of the suspension;
    • (3)
      • (i) The number of days, if any, the application was maintained in a sealed condition under 35 U.S.C. 181;
      • (ii) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date of mailing of an examiner's answer under § 41.39  in the application under secrecy order and ending on the date the secrecy order was removed;
      • (iii) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date applicant was notified that an interference or derivation proceeding under 35 U.S.C. 135(a)  would be instituted but for the secrecy order and ending on the date the secrecy order was removed; and
      • (iv) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date of notification under § 5.3(c)  of this chapter and ending on the date of mailing of the notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151; and,
    • (4) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date on which jurisdiction over the application passes to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under § 41.35(a)  of this chapter and ending on the date that jurisdiction by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board ends under § 41.35(b)  of this chapter or the date of the last decision by a Federal court in an appeal under 35 U.S.C. 141  or civil action under 35 U.S.C. 145, whichever is later.
  • (c) The period of adjustment under § 1.702(c)  is the sum of the following periods, to the extent that the periods are not overlapping:

    • (1) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date an interference or proceeding was instituted to involve the application in the interference or derivation proceeding under 35 U.S.C. 135(a)  and ending on the date that the interference or derivation proceeding was terminated with respect to the application; and
    • (2) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date prosecution in the application was suspended by the Office due to interference or derivation proceedings under 35 U.S.C. 135(a)  not involving the application and ending on the date of the termination of the suspension.
  • (d) The period of adjustment under § 1.702(d ) is the sum of the following periods, to the extent that the periods are not overlapping:

    • (1) The number of days, if any, the application was maintained in a sealed condition under 35 U.S.C. 181;
    • (2) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date of mailing of an examiner’s answer under § 41.39  of this title in the application under secrecy order and ending on the date the secrecy order was removed;
    • (3) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date applicant was notified that an interference or derivation proceeding would be instituted but for the secrecy order and ending on the date the secrecy order was removed; and
    • (4) The number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date of notification under § 5.3(c)  of this chapter and ending on the date of mailing of the notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151.
  • (e) The period of adjustment under § 1.702(e)  is the sum of the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date on which jurisdiction over the application passes to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under § 41.35(a)  of this chapter and ending on the date of a final decision in favor of applicant by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board or a Federal court in an appeal under 35 U.S.C. 141  or a civil action under 35 U.S.C. 145.
  • (f) The adjustment will run from the expiration date of the patent as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2). To the extent that periods of delay attributable to the grounds specified in § 1.702  overlap, the period of adjustment granted under this section shall not exceed the actual number of days the issuance of the patent was delayed. The term of a patent entitled to adjustment under § 1.702  and this section shall be adjusted for the sum of the periods calculated under paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section, to the extent that such periods are not overlapping, less the sum of the periods calculated under § 1.704. The date indicated on any certificate of mailing or transmission under § 1.8  shall not be taken into account in this calculation.
  • (g) No patent, the term of which has been disclaimed beyond a specified date, shall be adjusted under § 1.702  and this section beyond the expiration date specified in the disclaimer.

37 CFR 1.703  specifies the period of adjustment if a patent is entitled to patent term adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)  and 37 CFR 1.702. When a period is indicated (in 37 CFR 1.703  or 1.704 ) as "beginning" on a particular day, that day is included in the period, in that such day is "day one" of the period and not "day zero." For example, a period beginning on April 1 and ending on April 10 is ten (and not nine) days in length.

35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A) and (B)  provide for an adjustment of one day for each day after the end of the period set forth in 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (B)  until the prescribed action is taken, whereas 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(C)  provides for an adjustment of one day for each day of the pendency of the proceeding, order, or review prescribed in 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(C)(i) through (iii). Therefore, the end of the period set forth in 37 CFR 1.703(a)  and 1.703(b)  (which correspond to 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A) and (B) ) is "day zero" (not "day one") as to the period of adjustment, whereas the first day of the proceeding, order, or review set forth in 37 CFR 1.703(c), 1.703(d), and 1.703(e)  (which correspond to 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(C)(i) through (iii) ) is "day one" of the period of adjustment.

37 CFR 1.703(a)  pertains to 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)  and indicates that the period of adjustment under 37 CFR 1.702(a)  is the sum of the periods specified in 37 CFR 1.703(a)(1)  through 37 CFR 1.703(a)(6).

37 CFR 1.703(a)(1)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(i)  and specifies that the period is the number of days, if any, beginning on the date after the day that is fourteen months after the date on which the application was filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a)  or fulfilled the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371  in an international application and ending on the mailing date of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first. For purposes of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(i)(II)  in effect prior to enactment of the AIA Technical Corrections Act, an international application fulfills the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371  on the date of commencement of the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f), or the date the application fulfills the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371(c)  if that date is later than the date of commencement of the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f). In other words, the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371  are met when applicant has met all of the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371(c)  and, unless applicant requests early processing under 35 U.S.C. 371(f), the time limit set forth in the applicable one of PCT Articles 22  and 39  has expired. Accordingly, the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371  are met when the Office can begin examination of the patent application. If, for example, an applicant files the required oath or declaration (35 U.S.C. 115 ) and any necessary English translation after the expiration of the time limit set forth in Article 22  of the PCT or the time limit under Article 39  of the PCT, the date the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371  are met is the date the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371(c)  are met. If, however, an applicant files the required declaration, filing fee, and any required English translation before the expiration of the relevant PCT Article 22  or Article 39  time period, but does not request early processing under 35 U.S.C. 371, the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371  will be met once the applicable time period has expired.

For patents issuing from international application that are granted on or after January 14, 2013, 37 CFR 1.703(a)(1)  in effect on April 1, 2013 applies. The AIA Technical Corrections Act and the changes to 37 CFR 1.703(a)(1)  revised the date that begins the fourteen-month measurement from the date on which the international application fulfilled the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371  to the date of commencement of the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371. The change to 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(i)(II)  means that the time period will begin sooner in international applications where the inventor does not file the inventor’s oath or declaration (35 U.S.C. 371(c)(4) ) or other requirements at the time of the commencement.

A written restriction requirement, a written election of species requirement, a requirement for information under 37 CFR 1.105, an action under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 Comm’r Dec. 11 (1935), and a notice of allowability (PTOL-37) are each an action issued as a result of the examination conducted pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 131. As such, each of these Office actions is a notification under 35 U.S.C. 132. Office notices and letters issued as part of the pre-examination processing of an application are not notices issued as a result of an examination conducted pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 131, and thus are not notifications under 35 U.S.C. 132. Examples of such pre-examination processing notices are: a Notice of Incomplete Nonprovisional Application, a Notice of Omitted Item(s) in a Nonprovisional Application, a Notice to File Missing Parts of Application, a Notice of Informal Application, a Notice to File Corrected Application Papers Filing Date Granted, or a Notice to Comply with Requirements for Patent Applications Containing Nucleotide Sequence and/or Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures.

Written restriction requirements are notifications under 35 U.S.C. 132. In considering whether a restriction requirement under 35 U.S.C. 121  was appealable under 35 U.S.C. 134, the Court of Customs and Patent Appeals (CCPA) noted that: (1) 35 U.S.C. 121  denoted its restriction procedure as a‘‘requirement’’; (2) 35 U.S.C. 132  stated that the Commissioner shall give notice to the applicant whenever ‘‘any claim for a patent is rejected, or any objection or requirement made’’; and (3) 35 U.S.C. 134  provided for an appeal only by an applicant whose claims have been‘‘twice rejected.’’ See In re Hengehold, 440 F.2d 1395, 1402–03, 169 USPQ 473,479 (CCPA 1971). Thus, the CCPA concluded that Congress intended to differentiate between objections and requirements (35 U.S.C. 132 ) and actual rejections of claims (35 U.S.C. 132 ) and made appeal applicable only to the latter. See Hengehold, 440 F.2d at 1403, 169 USPQ at 479. Since the CCPA cited with approval the "requirement" language of 35 U.S.C. 121  and evaluated rejections, objections, and requirements together under 35 U.S.C. 132  when discussing and differentiating among them to determine whether a restriction requirement was appealable under 35 U.S.C. 134, the CCPA must have considered a restriction requirement to be a requirement under 35 U.S.C. 132. In other words, the CCPA’s analysis determined that the making of a written restriction (or election) requirement is a notification under 35 U.S.C. 132. See also Digital Equipment Corp. v. Diamond, 653 F.2d 701, 713 n.13, 210 USPQ 521, 535–36 n.13 (1st Cir. 1981) (35 U.S.C. 132  when noting that the terms ‘‘requirement’’ and ‘‘objection’’ are distinct from ‘‘rejection’’ and as such, objections were not appealable under 35 U.S.C. 134 ). In addition, the Office has long considered a written restriction requirement containing no action on the merits to be a notice under 35 U.S.C. 132. For example, MPEP § 710.02(b) instructs examiners to set a shortened statutory period for reply of one month for a written restriction requirement containing no action on the merits under the authority given by 35 U.S.C. 133. 35 U.S.C. 133  would not apply to the period for reply to a written restriction requirement, if a written restriction requirement containing no action on the merits is not a notice under 35 U.S.C. 132.

37 CFR 1.703(a)(2)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(ii)  and specifies that the period is the number of days, if any, beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date a reply under 37 CFR 1.111  was filed and ending on the mailing date of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first.

37 CFR 1.703(a)(3)  also pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(ii)  and specifies that the period is the number of days, if any, beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date a reply in compliance with 37 CFR 1.113(c)  was filed and ending on the date of mailing of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first. A reply under 37 CFR 1.113  is a reply to a final Office action, and a reply in compliance with 37 CFR 1.113  is a reply that cancels all of the rejected claims and removes all outstanding objections and requirements or otherwise places the application in condition for allowance. Any amendment after final that does not cancel all of the rejected claims and remove all outstanding objections and requirements or otherwise place the application in condition for allowance is not a reply in compliance with 37 CFR 1.113(c)  and will not trigger the four-month requirement under 37 CFR 1.703(a)(3)  for the Office to act on the after-final reply.

37 CFR 1.703(a)(4)  also pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(ii)  and specifies that the period is the number of days, if any, beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date an appeal brief in compliance with 37 CFR 41.37  was filed and ending on the mailing date of any of an examiner’s answer under 37 CFR 41.39, an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first. As discussed below, the phrase "the date on which" an "appeal was taken" in 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(ii)  means the date on which an appeal brief (and not a notice of appeal) was filed. The phrase "appeal brief in compliance with 37 CFR 41.37 " requires that: (1) the appeal brief fee (37 CFR 1.17(b) ) be paid (37 CFR 41.20 ); and (2) the appeal brief complies with the requirements in 37 CFR 41.37(c). However, for applications in which the appeal brief was filed on or after March 19, 2013, the fee required to accompany the appeal brief is set to zero dollars in amended 37 CFR 41.37(a), and accordingly, the phrase "appeal brief in compliance with 37 CFR 41.37 " no longer requires the filing of the appeal brief fee. See Setting and Adjusting Patent Fees, 78 Fed. Reg. 4212, 4291 (January 18, 2013).

37 CFR 1.703(a)(5)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii)  and specifies that the period is the number of days, if any, beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date of a final decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (Board) or by a Federal court in an appeal under 35 U.S.C. 141  or a civil action under 35 U.S.C. 145  or 146, where at least one allowable claim remains in the application and ending on the mailing date of either an action under 35 U.S.C. 132, or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, whichever occurs first.

The phrase "allowable claims remain in the application" for purposes of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii)  means that after the decision there is at least one pending claim (for purposes of statutory construction, "words importing the plural include the singular" (1 U.S.C. 1 )) that is not withdrawn from consideration and is not subject to a rejection, objection, or other requirement. This applies in the following situations: (1) at least one claim is allowable (not merely objected to) at the time the examiner’s answer is mailed and is not canceled before, or made subject to a rejection as a result of, the appellate review; or (2) when all of the rejections applied to at least one claim are reversed, and such claim is not made subject to a rejection, as a result of the appellate review. For example:

    • (A) If claims 1 and 2 (both independent) are pending, the decision affirms the rejection of claim 1, and claim 2 was indicated as allowable prior to the appeal, then "allowable claims remain in the application" for purposes of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii).
    • (B) If claims 1 and 2 are pending, the decision affirms the rejection of claim 1, and claim 2 was objected to by the examiner prior to the appeal as being allowable except for its dependency from claim 1, "allowable claims" do not "remain in the application" for purposes of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii)  (claim 2 is not allowable because there is an outstanding objection to it).
    • (C) If claims 1 and 2 are pending (claim 2 either depending from claim 1 or is an independent claim), and the decision affirms the rejection of claim 1 and reverses the rejection of claim 2, then "allowable claims remain in the application" for purposes of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii)  (claim 2 is "allowable" within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.703(a)(5) ) because there is no outstanding objection or requirement as to it (see MPEP § 1214.06, paragraph (II)).

For a Board decision to be a ‘‘decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under [35 U.S.C.] 134 ’’ within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii)  (and § 1.703(a)(5) ), the decision must sustain or reverse the rejection(s) of the claim(s) on appeal, or in limited circumstances as further described below, a remand may be deemed a decision for purposes of 37 CFR 1.703(a)(5). For a Board decision to be a ‘‘decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under [35 U.S.C.] 135 ’’within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii)  (and § 1.703(a)(5) ), the decision must include a decision on the patentability of the claims, derivation or priority of invention.

If an application is remanded by a panel and the remand is the last action by a panel of the Board prior to the mailing of a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151, the remand generally shall be considered a decision by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board as that phrase is used in 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iii), a decision in the review reversing an adverse determination of patentability as that phrase is used in 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(C)(iii), and a final decision in favor of the applicant as that phrase is used in 37 CFR 1.703(e). However, a remand by a panel of the Board shall not be considered a decision in the review reversing an adverse determination of patentability, as provided in this paragraph, if there is filed a request for continued examination under 35 U.S.C. 132(b)  that was not first preceded by the mailing, after the remand, of at least one of an action under 35 U.S.C. 132  or a notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151.

The phrase ‘‘final decision’’ in 37 CFR 1.703(a)(5)  means that: (1) the decision is the last decision in the review by the Board (or by a Federal court); and (2) the decision does not require further action by the applicant to avoid termination of proceedings as to the rejected claims. Thus, a Board decision containing a new ground of rejection under 37 CFR 41.50(b)  requires action by the applicant to avoid termination of proceedings as to the rejected claim s and is, thus, is not considered a ‘‘final decision’’ for purposes of 37 CFR 1.703(a)(5). The phrase ‘‘final decision,’’ however, does not require that the decision be final for purposes of judicial review (e.g., a Board decision reversing the rejection of all of the claims on appeal is not ‘‘final’’ for purposes of judicial review, but (absent a subsequent decision by the Board) is a ‘‘final decision’’ for purposes of 37 37 CFR 1.703(a)(5) ).

37 CFR 1.703(a)(6)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iv)  and specifies that the period is the number of days, if any, beginning on the day after the date that is four months after the date the issue fee was paid and all outstanding requirements were satisfied and ending on the date the patent was issued. The date the issue fee was paid and all outstanding requirements were satisfied is the later of the date the issue fee was paid or the date all outstanding requirements were satisfied. Note that the filing of a priority document (and processing fee) is not considered an outstanding requirement under 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(A)(iv)  and 37 CFR 1.703(a)(6)  because if the priority document is not filed the patent simply issues without the priority claim (the application is not abandoned). If prosecution in an application is reopened after allowance (see MPEP § 1308), all outstanding requirements are not satisfied until the application is again in condition for allowance as indicated by the issuance of a new notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151  (see MPEP § 1308) and the form PTOL-85(b) from the latest notice of allowance is returned to the Office along with any outstanding requirements, such as payment of any additional fees owed and/or additional required drawings to be submitted by the applicant.

37 CFR 1.703(b)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(B)  and indicates that the period of adjustment under 37 CFR 1.702(b)  is the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the day after the date that is three years after the actual filing date of the application and ending on the date a patent was issued. 37 CFR 1.703(b)  also sets forth the limitations on patent term adjustment specified in 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(B)(i) and (ii). Specifically, 37 CFR 1.703(b)  provides that the period of adjustment of the term of a patent shall not include the period equal to the sum of the following periods: (1) The period of pendency consumed by continued examination of the application under 35 U.S.C. 132(b)  (35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(B)(i) ); (2) the period of pendency consumed by interference proceedings (35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(B)(ii) ); (3) the period of pendency consumed by imposition of a secrecy order (35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(B)(ii) ); and (4) the period of pendency consumed by appellate review under 35 U.S.C. 134, 141, 145, whether successful or unsuccessful (35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(B)(ii) ). The provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(B)(iii)  concerning the period of pendency consumed by delays in the processing of the application requested by the applicant are treated in 37 CFR 1.704  as such applicant delays are also circumstances constituting a failure of an applicant to engage in reasonable efforts to conclude processing or examination of an application.

37 CFR 1.703(c)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(C)(i)  and indicates that the period of adjustment under 37 CFR 1.702(c)  is the sum of the following periods (to the extent that such periods are not overlapping): (1) the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date an interference or derivation proceeding was instituted to involve the application in the interference or deviation proceeding and ending on the date that the interference or deviation proceeding was terminated with respect to the application; and (2) the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date prosecution in the application was suspended by the Office due to interference or derivation proceedings under 35 U.S.C. 135(a)  not involving the application and ending on the date of the termination of the suspension.

37 CFR 1.703(d)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(C)(ii)  and indicates that the period of adjustment under 37 CFR 1.702(d)  is the sum of the following periods (to the extent that such periods are not overlapping): (1) the number of days, if any, the application was maintained in a sealed condition under 35 U.S.C. 181; (2) the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date of mailing of an examiner’s answer under 37 CFR 41.39  in the application under secrecy order and ending on the date the secrecy order was removed; (3) the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date applicant was notified that an interference or derivation proceeding under 35 U.S.C. 135(a)  would be instituted but for the secrecy order and ending on the date the secrecy order was removed; and (4) the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date of notification under 37 CFR 5.3(c)  and ending on the date of mailing of the notice of allowance under 35 U.S.C. 151  and 37 CFR 1.311.

37 CFR 1.703(e)  pertains to the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)(C)(iii)  and indicates that the period of adjustment under 37 CFR 1.702(e)  is the sum of the number of days, if any, in the period beginning on the date on which a jurisdiction over the application passes to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board under 37 CFR 41.35(a)  and ending on the date of a final decision in favor of the applicant by the Board or by a Federal court in an appeal under 35 U.S.C. 141  or a civil action under 35 U.S.C. 145.

37 CFR 1.703(f)  indicates that the adjustment will run from the expiration date of the patent as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2)  and also indicates that to the extent that periods of delay attributable to the grounds specified in 37 CFR 1.702  overlap, the period of adjustment will not exceed the actual number of days the issuance of the patent was delayed (35 U.S.C. 154(b)(2)(A) ). 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(2)(A)  provides that "[t]o the extent that periods of delay attributable to grounds specified in [35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1) ] overlap, the period of any adjustment granted under this subsection shall not exceed the actual number of days the issuance of the patent was delayed." The USPTO previously had interpreted this provision as covering situations in which a delay by the USPTO contributes to multiple bases for adjustment (the "pre-Wyeth" interpretation of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(2)(A) ). See Explanation of 37 CFR 1.703(f)  and of the United States Patent and Trademark Office Interpretation of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(2)(A), 69 Fed. Reg. 34283 (June 21, 2004), 1284 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 56 (July 13, 2004). The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, however, held that the USPTO's earlier interpretation of 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(2)(A)  was erroneous, and that periods of delay overlap under 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(2)(A)  only if the periods which measure the amount of adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154(b)(1)  occur on the same calendar day. See Wyeth v. Kappos, 591 F.3d 1364, 93 USPQ2d 1257 (Fed. Cir. 2010).

37 CFR 1.703(f)  also specifically indicates that the term of a patent entitled to adjustment under 37 CFR 1.702  and 1.703  shall be adjusted for the sum of the periods calculated under 37 CFR 1.703(a) through (e), to the extent that such periods are not overlapping, less the sum of the periods calculated under 37 CFR 1.704.

Moreover, 37 CFR 1.703(f)  provides that the date indicated on any certificate of mailing or transmission under 37 CFR 1.8  shall not be taken into account in this calculation. The date indicated on a certificate of mailing is used only to determine whether the correspondence is timely (including whether any extension of the time and fee are required) so as to avoid abandonment of the application or termination or dismissal of proceedings. The actual date of receipt of the correspondence in the Office is used for all other purposes. See 37 CFR 1.8(a). Thus, while the date indicated on any certificate of mailing or transmission under 37 CFR 1.8  will continue to be taken into account in determining timeliness, the date of filing (37 CFR 1.6 ) will be the date used in a patent term adjustment calculation. Applicant may wish to consider the use of the electronic filing system (EFS), the "Express Mail Post Office to Addressee" service of the United States Postal Service (37 CFR 1.10 ) or facsimile transmission (37 CFR 1.6(d) ), when permitted, for replies to be accorded the earliest possible filing date for patent term adjustment calculations. Alternatively, applicant may choose to mail correspondence with sufficient time to ensure that the correspondence is received in the Office (and stamped with a date of receipt) before the expiration of the three-month period. Applicants are encouraged to check PAIR to verify the date of deposit entered in PALM for the correspondence. Applicants should contact the Office for correction of any such entries prior to thegrant of the patent. At the time of the grant of the patent, the patent term adjustment calculation will be made with the dates in PALM. Thereafter, a patent term adjustment accompanied by the requisite fee and statement or showing, will be necessary to have any reduction of patent term under 37 CFR 1.704  reinstated.

Finally, 37 CFR 1.703(g)  indicates that no patent, the term of which has been disclaimed beyond a specified date, shall be adjusted under 37 CFR 1.702  and 1.703  beyond the expiration date specified in the disclaimer (35 U.S.C. 154(b)(2)(B) ).