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日本では、拒絶理由通知に対する応答期限は、国内居住者の場合は１ヶ月で、国外居住者の場合は３ヶ月です。国内居住者の場合は、実験に時間がかかる等の正当な理由が必要です。国外居住者の場合は、翻訳が必要と言えば無条件に認められる。ある意味では、日本人が不利に扱われている制度といえなくもないと思います。
この延長請求は、応答期限までに請求する必要があります。費用は、１ヶ月当たり２１００円です。
特許出願における拒絶理由通知の応答期間の延長に関する運用の変更について
米国では、拒絶理由の応答期限については、無条件に３ヶ月の応答期限が認められます。しかも、延長の請求は、実際に応答書面を提出するときに行えばいいので、十分に検討を行った結果、応答しない場合には、延長費用を支払う必要がありません。延長費用は、以下の通りです。１ヶ月延長の費用は比較的安いですが、２ヶ月目からはかなり高額になっています。
１ヶ月延長：$130
２ヶ月延長：$490
３ヶ月延長：$1,110
延長の上限が３ヶ月というのは、どうやって決まっているのでしょうか？
以下に示す規則1.136が延長の根拠ですが、この規則では、法律で決められた上限又は元々の期限から５ヶ月目のうちの早い方と決められています。つまり、法律で期限が決められているものは３ヶ月、それ以外のものは、５ヶ月の延長が可能です。
拒絶理由に対する応答期限は、以下に示す１３３条で、６ヶ月と決められています。従って、規則では、この６ヶ月を超えることができません。最初に指定される期限が通知日から３ヶ月ですので、延長できる上限が３ヶ月になります。
一方、例えば、Notice of appealを提出した後にappeal briefを提出する期限は、規則では２ヶ月と決められていますが、法律では何も決まっていないので、規則での上限である５ヶ月の延長が可能になります。
710.02(e) Extension of Time [R-3]
37 CFR 1.136 Extensions of time.
(a)
(1) If an applicant is required to reply within a nonstatutory or shortened statutory time period, applicant may extend the time period for reply up to the earlier of the expiration of any maximum period set by statute or five months after the time period set for reply, if a petition for an extension of time and the fee set in § 1.17(a) are filed, unless:
(i) Applicant is notified otherwise in an Office action;
(ii) The reply is a reply brief submitted pursuant to § 41.41 of this title;
(iii) The reply is a request for an oral hearing submitted pursuant to § 41.47(a) of this title;
(iv) The reply is to a decision by the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences pursuant to § 1.304 or to § 41.50 or § 41.52 of this title; or
(v) The application is involved in a contested case (§ 41.101(a) of this title).
(2) The date on which the petition and the fee have been filed is the date for purposes of determining the period of extension and the corresponding amount of the fee. The expiration of the time period is determined by the amount of the fee paid. A reply must be filed prior to the expiration of the period of extension to avoid abandonment of the application (§ 1.135), but in no situation may an applicant reply later than the maximum time period set by statute, or be granted an extension of time under paragraph (b) of this section when the provisions of this paragraph are available. See § 1.304 for extensions of time to appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit or to commence a civil action; § 1.550(c) for extensions of time in ex parte reexamination proceedings, § 1.956 for extensions of time in inter partes reexamination proceedings; and §§ 41.4(a) and 41.121(a)(3) of this title for extensions of time in contested cases before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.<
(3) A written request may be submitted in an application that is an authorization to treat any concurrent or future reply, requiring a petition for an extension of time under this paragraph for its timely submission, as incorporating a petition for extension of time for the appropriate length of time. An authorization to charge all required fees, fees under § 1.17, or all required extension of time fees will be treated as a constructive petition for an extension of time in any concurrent or future reply requiring a petition for an extension of time under this paragraph for its timely submission. Submission of the fee set forth in § 1.17(a) will also be treated as a constructive petition for an extension of time in any concurrent reply requiring a petition for an extension of time under this paragraph for its timely submission.
35 U.S.C. 133 Time for prosecuting application.
Upon failure of the applicant to prosecute the application within six months after any action therein, of which notice has been given or mailed to the applicant, or within such shorter time, not less than thirty days, as fixed by the Director in such action, the application shall be regarded as abandoned by the parties thereto, unless it be shown to the satisfaction of the Director that such delay was unavoidable.
§41.37 Appeal brief. (a)(1) Appellant must file a brief under this section within two months from the date of filing the notice of appeal under § 41.31.