MPEP § 1005 — Exceptions to Partial Signatory Authority
Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024 · last revised R-07.2015
Examiners who are delegated partial signatory authority are expected to sign their own actions with the exception of the following actions which require the signature of a primary examiner, Technology Center Director, or practice specialist:
1. Allowances (MPEP § 1302.13).
2. Examiner's amendments (MPEP § 1302.04).
3. Quayle actions (MPEP § 714.14).
4. Final rejections (MPEP §§ 706.07 and 803.01).
5. Withdrawal of final rejection (MPEP §§ 706.07(d) and 706.07(e)).
6. Actions on amendments submitted after final rejection (MPEP § 714.12).
7. Examiner’s answers on appeal (MPEP § 1207).
8. Actions reopening prosecution (MPEP § 1214.07).
9. Requests for withdrawal from issue (MPEP § 1308).
10. 37 CFR 1.312 amendments (MPEP § 714.16).
11. Rejection of previously allowed claim (MPEP § 706.04).
12. Final holding of abandonment for insufficient reply (MPEP § 711.03(a)).
13. Actions based on affidavit or declaration evidence (for example, under 37 CFR 1.130(a) (MPEP § 717.01(a) et seq.), 37 CFR 1.130(b) (MPEP § 717.01(b) et seq.), 37 CFR 1.131(a) (MPEP § 715.08), 37 CFR 1.131(c) (MPEP § 718), or 37 CFR 1.132 (MPEP § 716)).
14. Suspension of examiner’s action (MPEP § 709).
15. Reissue applications (e.g., decisions on reissue oath or declaration, MPEP § 1444).
16. Requests for an extension of time under 37 CFR 1.136(b), (MPEP § 710.02(e)).
17. Reexamination proceedings (MPEP § 2236).
18. International Preliminary Examination Reports (MPEP § 1879).
19. Actions suggesting claims for interference purposes (MPEP §§ 2304.04, 2304.04(b)).
20. Suggesting an interference (MPEP § 2302).
21. Actions involving copied patent claims (MPEP § 2304.04(b).
Cited authority
- 1302.13 Signing
- 1302.04 Examiner’s Amendments and Changes
- 714.14 Amendments After Allowance of All Claims
- 706.07 Final Rejection
- 803.01 Review by Examiner with at Least Partial Signatory Authority
- 706.07(e) Withdrawal of Final Rejection, General
- 714.12 Amendments and Other Replies After Final Rejection or Action
- 1207 Examiner’s Answer
- 1214.07 Reopening of Prosecution
- 1308 Withdrawal From Issue
- 37 CFR 1.312 Amendments after allowance
- 714.16 Amendment After Notice of Allowance, 37 CFR 1.312
- 706.04 Rejection of Previously Allowed Claims
- 711.03(a) Holding Based on Insufficiency of Reply
- 37 CFR 1.130 Affidavit or declaration of attribution or prior public disclosure under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act
- 717.01(a) Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a) – Attribution
- 717.01(b) Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(b) – Prior Public Disclosure
- 37 CFR 1.131 Affidavit or declaration of prior invention or to disqualify commonly owned patent or published application as prior art
- 715.08 Decided by Primary Examiner
- 718 Affidavit or Declaration to Disqualify Commonly Owned Patent as Prior Art, 37 CFR 1.131(c)
- 37 CFR 1.132 Affidavits or declarations traversing rejections or objections
- 716 Affidavits or Declarations Under 37 CFR 1.132 and Other Evidence Traversing Rejections
- 709 Suspension of Action
- 1444 Review of Reissue Oath/Declaration
- 37 CFR 1.136 Extensions of time
- 710.02(e) Extension of Time
- 2236 Assignment of Reexamination
- 1879 Preparation of the International Preliminary Examination Report
- 2304.04 Examiner Suggestion
- 2304.04(b) Requiring a Claim
- 2302 Consult an Interference Practice Specialist