2261 MPEP
In view of the requirement for “special dispatch,” reexamination proceedings will be “special” throughout their pendency in the Office. The examiner’s first action on the merits should be completed within 1 month of the filing date of the requester’s reply (37 CFR 1.535), or within 1 month of the filing date of the patent owner’s statement (37 CFR 1.530) if there is no requester other than the patent owner. If no submissions are made under either 37 CFR 1.530 or 37 CFR 1.535, the first action on the merits should be completed within 1 month of any due date for such submission. Mailing of the first action should occur within 6 WEEKS after the appropriate filing or due date of any statement and any reply thereto.
Any cases involved in litigation, whether they are reexamination proceedings or reissue applications, will have priority over all other cases. Reexamination proceedings not involved in litigation will have priority over all other cases except reexaminations or reissues involved in litigation.
Based on what is posted on the USPTO website, there has been no patent owner statement. Pursuant to the above USPTO procedure, we should see a first office action by Feb 25. Does this seem correct?
There is also the possibility that the first office action might very well be another NIRC. One can only hope.
