The petitioner Lead Counsel, Back-up Counsel, or Staff can upload documents once a petition is filed. If you need to add new Back-up Counsel to your case after the petition has been filed, Lead Counsel can use the Update Counsel function. See FAQ G3 for instructions. See P-TACTS User Guide , Filing…
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Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
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After a petition has been filed, the Board has three months from the date that a patent owner files a preliminary response, if any, to decide whether to institute a trial. If a trial is instituted, the Board has twelve months to issue a final written decision, subject to an extension of up to six…
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Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
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No. The filing of a §15 Declaration is optional. An owner may choose to claim the benefits of incontestability by filing a §15 Declaration or may elect to retain the registration without those benefits. The term of the registration, for purpose of renewal, is not affected in either event.
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Answer details at www.uspto.gov/trademarks/maintain/post-registration-faqs, post-registration procedures via Trademark Center (verified 2026-09-29)
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There are no special naming conventions for documents, but document names must be 75 characters or less. Use the name that will appear in the docket listing. It should be simple and descriptive, such as "Jones Motion to Amend" or "Second Declaration of Dr. Smith." See P-TACTS User Guide [System…
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
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Fee
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No, the petitioner's patent application must be filed with the USPTO like any other application through Patent Center. P-TACTS should only be used to file the petition for a derivation proceeding with the Board. A petitioner should, however, file a copy of its application as an exhibit to the…
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
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Fee
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No, examiner’s objections are not appealable to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The Board’s jurisdiction is limited primarily to review of examiner’s rejections based on unpatentability. The Board also does not review matters of examiner procedure, such as a requirement for…
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Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
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No, you may not try to contact a judge for help with an appeal. Other than during a hearing, judges will not discuss a particular appeal with you. Judges will rely on the written record, including a your brief(s), to decide the appeal. If you have questions about preparing or filing documents on…
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Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
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P-TACTS is intended for the general public. Due to limitations of equipment and bandwidth, P-TACTS is not intended to be a source for bulk downloads of USPTO data. Individuals, companies, IP addresses, or blocks of IP addresses who, in effect, deny service to the general public by generating…
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
No site-wide statement on the page (verified 2026-09-29)
Fee
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Yes. If you, as the appellant, file an RCE with appropriate fees before a decision from the Board, you should advise the Board of the RCE, and the appeal will be dismissed and prosecution reopened. If you file an RCE after a decision from the Board, then you can file an RCE to reopen prosecution…
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Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
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Yes, 35 U.S.C. § 311(a) provides that, subject to certain requirements, "a person who is not the owner of a patent may file with the Office a petition to institute an inter partes review of the patent." This provision is not limited to utility patents.
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
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Fee
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Except in unusual situations, interviews are not permitted after the appeal brief is filed. If you have filed a notice of appeal but have not filed an appeal brief, you normally may have one interview with the examiner. [After notice of appeal]
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
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Yes, you can include claim charts in your petition. Ensure your claim charts are presented in a readable format so readers (e.g., the patent owner or a deciding official) can locate the disputed claim limitations and the relied-upon portions of the prior art quickly. Present your claim limitations…
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
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Fee
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You must pay the full amount in Financial Manager using one form of payment. As a petitioner, if you need to use multiple forms of payment (for example, direct deposit account and credit card) to pay the fees for a single IPR or PGR, call the Board at 571-272-7822. You must provide written…
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
No site-wide statement on the page (verified 2026-09-29)
Fee
Confirmed per answer on the page (no site-wide statement, verified 2026-09-29)
What you need (account or API key)
Confirmed per answer on the page (no site-wide statement, verified 2026-09-29)
You must pay the full amount in Financial Manager using one form of payment. As a petitioner, if you need to use multiple forms of payment (for example, direct deposit account and credit card) to pay the fees for a single IPR or PGR, call the Board at 571-272-7822. You must provide written…
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
No site-wide statement on the page (verified 2026-09-29)
Fee
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Yes, hearing rooms are outfitted with audiovisual equipment for presenting slides. Appellants must request the audiovisual equipment in writing and provide the slides at least five days in advance of their scheduled hearing. No new evidence is permitted.
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
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Yes. A request for oral hearing must be filed as a separate paper (i.e. not within the notice or any other paper), and the required fee must be paid, in accordance with 37 CFR § 41.47 within 2 months from the date of the examiner's answer or supplemental examiner's answer. See also Section 1209 of…
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
No site-wide statement on the page (verified 2026-09-29)
Fee
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Yes. A written request for a telephonic or video hearing must be filed with the Board. This can be part of the hearing request, or filed upon receipt of the Board's notice of hearing. The request should be sent by facsimile transmission at 571-273-0299, if sent in response to the notice of hearing.
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
No site-wide statement on the page (verified 2026-09-29)
Fee
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Yes, a single user ID may be shared among a working group. It is important to keep in mind, however, that P-TACTS docket display is based on the user ID. Therefore, the registered user must ensure that sharing his or her user ID would not violate any protective order.
Current entry point
Answer details at www.uspto.gov/patents/ptab/faqs, PTAB trials via Patent Center (verified 2026-09-29)
Legacy system and where it moved
No site-wide statement on the page (verified 2026-09-29)
Fee
Confirmed per answer on the page (no site-wide statement, verified 2026-09-29)
What you need (account or API key)
Confirmed per answer on the page (no site-wide statement, verified 2026-09-29)