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<p>This is a very good point, thank you.</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 9/20/2025 8:55 PM, Randall Svihla
wrote:<br>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span>The RCE will almost certainly be
examined sooner than a continuation application.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Randall S. Svihla</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>NSIP Law</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span>Washington, D.C.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
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<div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span>From:</span></b><span>
Patentpractice
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com"><patentpractice-bounces@oppedahl-lists.com></a>
<b><span>On Behalf Of </span></b>Carl Oppedahl via
Patentpractice<br>
<b><span>Sent:</span></b> Saturday, September 20, 2025
6:03 PM<br>
<b><span>To:</span></b> For patent practitioners. This
is not for laypersons to seek legal advice.
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com"><patentpractice@oppedahl-lists.com></a><br>
<b><span>Cc:</span></b> Carl Oppedahl
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:carl@oppedahl.com"><carl@oppedahl.com></a><br>
<b><span>Subject:</span></b> [Patentpractice] RCE versus
continuation?</span></p>
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</div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Hello folks. I just got done paying the fee for a
second RCE in one of my clients' cases. Ouch! $2860 for a
non-small entity.</span></p>
<p><span>I then went to the trouble to add up the filing fee,
search fee, and exam fee that would have been paid in an
ordinary continuation. Looks like that adds up to $2000. </span></p>
<p><span>I note that the number 2000 is smaller than that number
2860.</span></p>
<p><span>Which got me thinking about the question of the subject
line. RCE or continuation?</span></p>
<p><span>I guess in most ways the RCE is the better path despite
the need for handing over more money, right?</span></p>
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">
<span>Maybe the case has enough IDS references to be in
IDS-size-penalty world. In the continuation, an IDS size
penalty would need to be paid. The RCE saves having to
pay that penalty.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">
<span>Maybe there are lots of excess claims in the case.
The RCE saves having to pay again for the excess claims.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">
<span>For a continuation, I would have to identify and
upload spec, claims, abstract, and drawings. Which among
other things presents the risk that I will screw up and
upload the wrong file or a wrong version of a file. The
RCE eliminates risk of my screwing this up, and saves the
mouse clicks required for the uploads.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">
<span>For the continuation, to avoid the malpractice risks
of DOCX filings, I would have to pay the $430 penalty.
The RCE saves me from having to pay that fee.</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">
<span>Maybe enough years would have dragged on by now that
the penalty fee for presenting a domestic benefit claim
after so many years would kick in. The RCE avoids that
penalty.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span>What factors favor the continuation? Well, one thing
is, sometimes the client is not sure yet how the client
wants to deal with the most recent rejection. If so, then
the continuation is ideal because you could (for example)
intentionally do something to trigger a notice of some
kind. Put in a placeholder multiple-dependent claim and not
pay for it, triggering a Notice to pay for the RCE. Then
maybe within two months, cancel the MDC and along with it,
hand in the response to the most recent rejection. (With
the RCE it would have been required that the response
accompany the RCE.)</span></p>
<p><span>Did I get the pros and cons right? Are there other
pros and cons that I missed?</span></p>
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