Reissue, Reexamination, and Supplemental Examination Strategies and Insights – March 2026

In the mid-2000s, the U.S. Patent Office (USPTO) determined that reexaminations would be more consistent and legally correct if performed by a centralized set of experienced and specially trained Examiners. As a result, the USPTO formed the Central Reexamination Unit (CRU) and staffed it with 15 year+ Examiners and legal experts. Later, after the loss of Inter Partes Reexamination in 2012, the USPTO added all newly filed reissue applications to the CRU Examiner’s regime.

Sterne Kessler’s utility and design reissue, reexamination, and supplemental examination team will share practice tips and insights into prosecuting these proceedings before this specialized examination group within the USPTO.

This month, we have a follow-up to February’s article “First Strike” where we discuss the mechanics that make anonymous reexamination strategically useful and in our second article, we examine how court decisions on artificial intelligence may make their way into USPTO practice.

In This Issue:

• Under the Hood: Leveraging Anonymous Ex Parte Reexamination
• Protecting Privilege and Work Product Doctrines When Handling USPTO Post-Grant Proceedings That Utilize Artificial Intelligence