<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body style="overflow-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; line-break: after-white-space;">Hi Randall,<div><br></div><div>This is very helpful information \u2014 thank you. We are not way past the 2-month deadline, so perhaps the examiner did prepare the answer on time, and it\u2019s going through back-end processing. It is good to know that the examiner will get dinged and her supervisor will automatically be notified if she doesn't get it done by the internal deadline. </div><div><br></div><div><div><div><div>Thanks again.</div><div><br></div><div>Best regards,</div><div>Krista</div><div><br>------------------------------------------<br>Krista S. Jacobsen<br>Attorney and Counselor at Law<br>Jacobsen IP Law<br>krista@jacobseniplaw.com<br>T: 408.455.5539<br>www.jacobseniplaw.com<br><br>NOTICE: This communication may include privileged or confidential information. If received in error, please notify the sender and delete this communication without copying or distributing.</div><div><br></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
</div>
<div><br><blockquote type="cite"><div>On Dec 13, 2024, at 6:25\u202fAM, Randall Svihla <rsvihla@nsiplaw.com> wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><div><meta charset="UTF-8"><div class="WordSection1" style="page: WordSection1; caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Hi, Krista<o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The Examiner will get hit with minus points on the workflow management element of their rating if they don't issue an Examiner's answer by the deadline on their docket report, and the case will pop up on his supervisor's list of late cases, so that will prevent an Examiner from sitting on the Appeal Brief forever.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When I was an Examiner, we had to issue an Examiner's Answer by the end of the<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><span class="SpellE">biweek</span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>that included the date that was two months after the Appeal Brief was placed on our docket.<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>That may have changed slightly, but is still approximately correct,<span> <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>And it takes some time after the Examiner turns in the Examiner's Answer for it to be processed and mailed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Randall S. Svihla<o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">NSIP Law<o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Washington, D.C.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Arial"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div style="border-width: 1pt medium medium; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(225, 225, 225) currentcolor currentcolor; border-image: none; padding: 3pt 0in 0in;"><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><b><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">From:</span></font></b><span><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Patentpractice <<a href="mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;">patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">On Behalf Of<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b>Krista Jacobsen via Patentpractice<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sent:</span></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Friday, December 13, 2024 9:02 AM<br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">To:</span></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <<a href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;">patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com</a>><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cc:</span></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Krista Jacobsen <<a href="mailto:krista@jacobseniplaw.com" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;">krista@jacobseniplaw.com</a>><br><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Subject:</span></b><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>[Patentpractice] Examiner's answer to appeal brief not received within 2 months<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div><div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hi everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">According to the transaction history, the appeal brief in an application was forwarded to the examiner over 2 months ago. We have not yet received the examiner's answer.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Per MPEP 1207.02, "[t]he examiner should furnish the appellant with a written statement in answer to the appellant\u2019s brief within 2 months after the receipt of the brief by the examiner."<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">(Note the word "should," which seems problematic, at least because the appeal cannot be forwarded to the PTAB without an examiner's answer. What's to stop an examiner from just sitting on the appeal brief forever?)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Other than calling the examiner's supervisor (and/or Patrick the Ombudsman who is definitely not AI), is there anything an applicant can do when the examiner misses the 2-month (apparently soft) deadline to provide the answer?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span><o:p></o:p></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Thanks in advance.<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Best regards,<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Krista<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></font></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Krista S. Jacobsen<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Attorney and Counselor at Law<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Jacobsen IP Law<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="mailto:krista@jacobseniplaw.com" target="_blank" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;">krista@jacobseniplaw.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">T: 408.455.5539<o:p></o:p></span></font></div></div><div><div style="margin: 0in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><font size="2" face="Calibri"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://www.jacobseniplaw.com/" target="_blank" style="color: purple; text-decoration: underline;">www.jacobseniplaw.com</a></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></blockquote></div><br></div><img alt="image001.png" src="cid:image001.png@01DB4D40.14F703E0"></div></body></html>