Doc Code: PET.RELIEF Document Description: Certification and Request for Japan Events Relief PTO/SB/425 (03-11) CERTIFICATION AND REQUEST FOR RELIEF DUE TO EVENTS OF MARCH 11, 2011, IN JAPAN (Page 1 of 2) Nonprovisional Application Number or Control Number (if applicable): First Named Inventor: Patent Number (if applicable): Title of Invention: APPLICANT/PATENTEE/REEXAMINATION PARTY HEREBY CERTIFIES AND REQUESTS THE FOLLOWING FOR THE ABOVE-IDENTIFIED APPLICATION/PATENT/REEXAMINATION PROCEEDING. 1. FOR PATENT APPLICATIONS AND REEXAMINATION PROCEEDINGS PENDING IN THE USPTO AS OF MARCH 11, 2011, IN WHICH A COMMUNICATION FROM THE USPTO IS SOUGHT TO BE REMAILED: a. b. c. d. e. One or more inventors, an assignee, or a correspondence address (for the application/proceeding) is in an area of Japan affected by the earthquake and/or tsunami of March 11, 2011. A reply or response to an Office action (final, non-final, or other), a notice of allowance, or other Office notice (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Office communication") is outstanding. The statutory or non-statutory time period set for response has not yet expired. Withdrawal and reissuance of the Office communication is requested. It is acknowledged that if this request is not made within sufficient time so that withdrawal and reissuance of the Office communication occur prior to expiration of the statutory or non-statutory time period (as permitted to be extended under 37 CFR 1.136(a), or as extended under 37 CFR 1.550(c) or 1.956), this request may not be granted. The need for the reissuance of the Office communication was due to the effects of the earthquake and/or tsunami of March 11, 2011. This request is being sent via EFS-Web or by mail directed to Mail Stop Petition, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. f. g. 2. FOR PATENTEES WHO WERE UNABLE TO TIMELY PAY A PATENT MAINTENANCE FEE DURING THE SIX-MONTH GRACE PERIOD FOLLOWING THE WINDOW TO PAY THE MAINTENANCE FEE: a. b. c. The original window of time to pay the maintenance fee without the surcharge required by 37 CFR 1.20(h) expired on or after March 11, 2011. The delay in paying the fee was due to the effects of the earthquake and/or tsunami of March 11, 2011. The USPTO is requested to sua sponte waive the surcharge in 37 CFR 1.20(h) for paying a maintenance fee during the six-month grace period following the window to pay the maintenance fee. This request and payment of the maintenance fee during the six-month grace period following the window to pay the maintenance fee is being mailed to: Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Attn: Maintenance Fee, 2051 Jamieson Avenue, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314; or being transmitted via facsimile to: 571-273-6500. d. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com PTO/SB/425 (03-11) CERTIFICATION AND REQUEST FOR RELIEF DUE TO EVENTS OF MARCH 11, 2011, IN JAPAN (Page 2 of 2) 3. FOR PATENTEES WHO NEED TO FILE A PETITION TO ACCEPT A DELAYED MAINTENANCE FEE PAYMENT UNDER 37 CFR 1.378(c): a. b. The maintenance fee payment was required to have been paid after March 10, 2011. A petition under 37 CFR 1.378(c) (using USPTO form PTO/SB/66 ­ Petition to Accept Unintentionally Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(c))) is being promptly filed accompanied by the applicable maintenance fee payment (but not the surcharge under 37 CFR 1.20(i)). The delay in payment of the maintenance fee was due to the effects of the earthquake and/or tsunami of March 11, 2011. The USPTO is requested to sua sponte waive the surcharge in 37 CFR 1.20(i) for accepting a delayed maintenance fee payment. It is acknowledged that the petition to accept a delayed maintenance fee payment under 37 CFR 1.378(c) must be filed by March 11, 2012, in order to be entitled to a waiver of the surcharge under 37 CFR 1.20(i). It is acknowledged that the petition to accept a delayed maintenance fee payment under 37 CFR 1.378(c) must be filed within twenty-four months from the expiration date of the patent. See 35 U.S.C 41(c). This request and the petition to accept a delayed maintenance fee payment under 37 CFR 1.378(c) is being submitted via EFS-Web or by mail directed to Mail Stop Petition, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. c. d. e. f. g. 4. FOR NONPROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATIONS FILED WITHOUT AN EXECUTED OATH OR DECLARATION OR PAYMENT OF THE BASIC FILING FEE, SEARCH FEE, AND/OR EXAMINATION FEE: a. b. c. d. The nonprovisional patent application was filed on or after March 11, 2011, and prior to April 12, 2011. The late filing of the oath or declaration or the basic filing fee, search fee, or examination fee was due to the effects of the earthquake and/or tsunami of March 11, 2011. The USPTO is requested to sua sponte waive the surcharge set forth in 37 CFR 1.16(f) for the late filing of the oath or declaration or basic filing fee, search fee, and/or examination fee. This request, together with the executed oath or declaration or the basic filing fee, search fee, or examination fee, as well as the reply to the Notice to File Missing Parts, is being submitted via EFS-Web or by mail directed to Mail Stop Missing Parts, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. Signature Name (Print/Typed) Date Practitioner Registration Number Note: Signatures of all the inventors, § 1.41(b) applicants, or assignees of record of the entire interest or their representative(s), or reexamination requesters at the appeal stage are required in accordance with 37 CFR 1.33 and 11.18. 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