The PTO/SB/30 form is a critical document for inventors and attorneys navigating the United States patent application process, specifically when a Request for Continued Examination (RCE) is necessary. Approved by the Office of Management and Budget until July 31, 2012, this form facilitates a unique aspect of patent law under 37 CFR 1.114, allowing applicants to request further examination of their application after initial examination procedures have been exhausted. It caters to utility or plant applications filed post-June 8, 1995, while excluding design applications and any utility or plant filings prior to this date. Essential information such as the application number, filing date, and inventor details are required, alongside a submission that complies with specified criteria if the previous office action was a final rejection. Filing this form incurs a fee under 37 CFR 1.17(e), and there are strict instructions for suspending action, ensuring that all RCE filing requirements are met prior to any suspension. The form warns that improper RCE submissions will not toll any time periods for appeal actions. It stands as a testament to the procedural intricacies involved in patent registration, aiming to streamline the continuation of examination for applications on the brink of finality. This mechanism ensures that inventors have a fair chance at securing patent protection, provided they navigate the stipulations with precision and timely response.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | Form Pto Sb 30 |
| Form Length | 3 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 45 sec |
| Other names | sb0030 request for continued examination form |