§ 1.644 - Petitions in interferences.

(a) There is no appeal to the Director in an interference from a decision of an administrative patent judge or the Board. The Director will not consider a petition in an interference unless:

(1) The petition is from a decision of an administrative patent judge or the Board and the administrative patent judge or the Board shall be of the opinion that the decision involves a controlling question of procedure or an interpretation of a rule as to which there is a substantial ground for a difference of opinion and that an immediate decision on petition by the Director may materially advance the ultimate termination of the interference;

(2) The petition seeks to invoke the supervisory authority of the Director and does not relate to the merits of priority of invention or patentability or the admissibility of evidence under the Federal Rules of Evidence; or

(3) The petition seeks relief under § 1.183.

(b) A petition under paragraph (a)(1) of this section filed more than 15 days after the date of the decision of the administrative patent judge or the Board may be dismissed as untimely. A petition under paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall not be filed prior to the party's brief for final hearing (see § 1.656). Any petition under paragraph (a)(3) of this section shall be timely if it is filed simultaneously with a proper motion under § 1.633, 1.634, or 1.635 when granting the motion would require waiver of a rule. Any opposition to a petition under paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section shall be filed within 20 days of the date of service of the petition. Any opposition to a petition under paragraph (a)(3) of this section shall be filed within 20 days of the date of service of the petition or the date an opposition to the motion is due, whichever is earlier.

(c) The filing of a petition shall not stay the proceeding unless a stay is granted in the discretion of the administrative patent judge, the Board, or the Director.

(d) Any petition must contain a statement of the facts involved, in numbered paragraphs, and the point or points to be reviewed and the action requested. The petition will be decided on the basis of the record made before the administrative patent judge or the Board, and no new evidence will be considered by the Director in deciding the petition. Copies of documents already of record in the interference shall not be submitted with the petition or opposition.

(e) Any petition under paragraph (a) of this section shall be accompanied by the petition fee set forth in § 1.17(h).

(f) Any request for reconsideration of a decision by the Director shall be filed within 14 days of the decision of the Director and must be accompanied by the fee set forth in § 1.17(h). No opposition to a request for reconsideration shall be filed unless requested by the Director. The decision will not ordinarily be modified unless such an opposition has been requested by the Director.

(g) Where reasonably possible, service of any petition, opposition, or request for reconsideration shall be such that delivery is accomplished within one working day. Service by hand or Express Mail complies with this paragraph.

(h) An oral hearing on the petition will not be granted except when considered necessary by the Director.

(i) The Director may delegate to appropriate Patent and Trademark Office employees the determination of petitions under this section.