[Patentpractice] One Interview per Round?

[Scott C. Sample]

Thanks. I just read that examiners have already began canceling after-final interviews.

I recently had an examiner refuse to schedule an interview two weeks before a non-final response deadline because she said she was leaving for vacation in a week but now I wonder.
Scott C. Sample
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From: Patentpractice <patentpractice-bounces at oppedahl-lists.com> On Behalf Of Judith S via Patentpractice
Sent: Friday, October 3, 2025 3:10 PM
To: For patent practitioners. This is not for laypersons to seek legal advice. <patentpractice at oppedahl-lists.com>
Cc: Judith S <judith.a.s at gmail.com>
Subject: [Patentpractice] One Interview per Round?

EXTERNAL EMAIL
An examiner in a recent interview told me that the examining corps just received a memo indicating that they are only permitted one interview for a ‘round,' which means from filing through RCE.


The Patent Examiner subreddit confirms:

https://www.reddit.com/r/patentexaminer/comments/1nw58wc/stakeholders_they_just_effectively_limited_you_to/


Commenters are suggesting that patent attorneys need to step up and push to change this policy, because otherwise we'll be getting a lot of interview denials.

I hope this memo predates the new head of the PTO, but I fear it does not.

Judith
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