210    Objections to Request

Since a request for an extension of time to oppose is ex parte in nature, there is no requirement that a copy has to be served upon the applicant. See TBMP § 203.04.For the same reason, an applicant is not notified of the filing of an extension request before the Board has acted on it. The Board’s action on the extension request will provide notice to the applicant of the extension request, which may be viewed at http://ttabvue.uspto.gov.

An applicant may learn of the filing of an extension request, and file objections thereto, before applicant receives anything from the Board about the request. This may happen, for example, when potential opposer serves a courtesy copy of the request upon applicant. If the Board receives objections before it acts upon the request, the Board will consider them. If the objections are received after action on the request, and the request has been granted, the objections will be treated as a request for reconsideration.

However, nearly all requests for extension of time to oppose are now filed electronically, and most of those will be automatically processed within minutes. It is rare for an applicant to learn of an extension request in time to file an objection prior to Board action on it. Accordingly, an applicant that receives notification from the Board that an extension request has been filed and granted may submit objections in the form of a request for reconsideration. See TBMP § 211.01 (Request for Reconsideration).

Further, an applicant who receives notification from the Board that a request for extension of time to oppose has been granted may submit objections to the granting of any further extensions of time to the potential opposer. In such a case, the objections will be considered by the Board in determining any subsequent request filed by the potential opposer, for an extension of time to oppose. If the Board does not receive objections until after it has granted a subsequent extension request, they will be treated as a request for reconsideration of the Board’s action.

Any document objecting to a request for an extension of time to oppose, or to the granting of any further extensions of time to oppose, should state clearly the reasons for objection. There is no requirement that the document be served upon the potential opposer. If there is no indication that service has been made, the Board will send potential opposer a copy of the document together with the Board’s action on the extension request, or, if the document is treated by the Board as a request for reconsideration, with the Board’s action on the request for reconsideration.