35 U.S.C. 303 Determination of issue by Director. (Sept. 16, 2012)
- (a) Within three months following the filing of a request for reexamination under the provisions of section 302 , the Director will determine whether a substantial new question of patentability affecting any claim of the patent concerned is raised by the request, with or without consideration of other patents or printed publications. On his own initiative, and any time, the Director may determine whether a substantial new question of patentability is raised by patents and publications discovered by him or cited under the provisions of section 301 or 302. The existence of a substantial new question of patentability is not precluded by the fact that a patent or printed publication was previously cited by or to the Office or considered by the Office.
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(Added Dec. 12, 1980, Public Law 96-517, sec. 1, 94 Stat. 3015; amended Nov. 29, 1999, Public Law 106-113, sec. 1000(a)(9), 113 Stat. 1501A-581, 582 (S. 1948 secs. 4732(a)(9) and (4732(a)(10)(A)); subsection (a) amended Nov. 2, 2002, Public Law 107-273, sec. 13105, 116 Stat. 1900; amended Sept. 16, 2011, Leahy-Smith America Invents Act, Public Law 112-29, secs. 6(h), 20(j), 125 Stat. 284, effective Sept. 16, 2012.)
[*End Editor's Note: 35 U.S.C. 303 (Sept. 16, 2012)]