310 Computing Period for Response to Office Action or Notice
The deadline for responding to an Office action, notice of allowance, or other notice issued by the USPTO is computed from the date the USPTO issues the action or notice to the date the response is received in the USPTO. See TMEP §303.01 regarding the filing date of receipt in the USPTO for electronic submissions.
For example, in an application filed under Section 66(a), a response to an examining attorney’s Office action dated August 31 with a six-month response period is due on the following February 28 (or 29 if it is a leap year); a response to an Office action dated February 28 with a six-month response period is due on August 28 and not on the last day of August. Ex parte Messick, 7 USPQ 57 (Comm’r Pats. 1930).
Similarly, in an application filed under Section 1 and/or 44, a response to an examining attorney’s Office action dated March 31 with a three-month response period is due on June 30. However, a response to an Office action dated April 30 with a three-month response period is due on the following July 30 and not the last day of July.
See TMEP §711 regarding the deadline for response to an Office action.
If a document or fee is due on a Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday within the District of Columbia, the document or fee is considered timely if it is received on or before the following day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a Federal holiday within the District of Columbia. 35 U.S.C. §21(b); 37 C.F.R. §2.196; TMEP §308.
See TMEP §309 regarding unscheduled closings of the USPTO.
See TMEP §301.02 regarding permitted paper filings.