Exactly. Either the 336 reexam is just beginning or it is near the end.

The determinations for reexam are dated 1/16/07, 1/19/07 and 4/5/07. Wouldn't it have made more sense to merge the 3 reexams earlier than April 2008? Work has already gone into those 3 separate determinations. Can that work be easily transferred to another? What about any work done after the reexam determination? Nothing done by anyone or easily transferable? And keep in mind what kind of work we are talking about here. It is understanding the prior are cited in the reexam orders. The USPTO is now asking the new examiner to get a full understanding of 3 separate sets of prior art. That must have made Rimel's day.

Granted we are dealing with a gov't entity, so nothing would surprise me. But it I think it would make more logical sense to be near the end IMHO. But if there is good arguments for the opposite view, I would like to hear them. Opty