37 CFR 2.62 – Procedure for submitting response
(a) Deadline. Each Office action shall set forth the deadline for response.
(1) Response periods. Unless the applicant is notified otherwise in an Office action, the response periods for an Office action are as follows:
(i) Three months from the issue date, for an Office action in an application under section 1 and/or section 44 of the Act; and
(ii) Six months from the issue date, for an Office action in an application under section 66(a) of the Act.
(2) Extensions of time. Unless the applicant is notified otherwise in an Office action, the time for response designated in paragraph (a)(1)(i) of this section may be extended by three months up to a maximum of six months from the Office action issue date, upon timely request and payment of the fee set forth in § 2.6(a)(28). To be considered timely, a request for extension of time must be received by the Office on or before the deadline for response set forth in the Office action.
(b) Signature. The response must be signed by the applicant, someone with legal authority to bind the applicant (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner of a partnership), or a practitioner qualified to practice under § 11.14 of this chapter, in accordance with the requirements of § 2.193(e)(2).
(c) Form. Responses and requests for extensions of time to respond must be submitted through TEAS pursuant to § 2.23(a). Responses and requests for extensions of time to respond sent via email or facsimile will not be accorded a date of receipt.