# MPEP § 1001.01: Modes of Exercising Authority

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1001.01

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 1001.01
- **Heading:** Modes of Exercising Authority
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 1000 - Matters Decided by Various U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Officials / MPEP § 1001.01

## Text

The authority of the Director of the USPTO to review and supervise the
work of the Office is exercised by the promulgation of the Rules of Practice; issuance
of orders, notices and memoranda stating Office policies and modes for effectuating
these policies; decisions on petitions by applicants; and by the designation of
particular cases which must be submitted to the Director of the USPTO or other officials
authorized by the Director of the USPTO. The present Chapter deals with the latter two
items. The line of demarcation between appealable matters for the Patent Trial and
Appeal Board (Board) and petitionable matters for the Director of the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office (Director) should be carefully observed. The Board will not ordinarily
hear a question that should be decided by the Director on petition, and the Director
will not ordinarily entertain a petition where the question presented is a matter
appealable to the Board. See
MPEP Chapter 1200
for more information
on appealable matters.
37 CFR
1.181(g)
states, “The Director may delegate to appropriate Patent
and Trademark Office officials the determination of petitions.”
The various delegations to various Office officials are set forth in
this Chapter.
The delegations set forth in this Chapter do not confer a right to have
a matter decided by a specific Office official, rather, such delegations aid in the
efficient treatment of petitions by the Office. A delegation of supervisory or higher
level review authority over a matter carries with it the authority to decide the matter
ab initio.
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## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 1001 Statutory Authority of Director of the USPTO](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1001.md)
- [MPEP § 1001.01 Modes of Exercising Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1001.01.md)
- [MPEP § 1002 Petitions to the Director of the USPTO](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.md)
- [MPEP § 1002.01 Procedure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.01.md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02 Delegation of Authority To Decide Petitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02.md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(a) [Reserved]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(a).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(b) Petitions and Requests Decided by the Deputy Commissioner Who Oversees the Office of Petitions or Assigned Staff in the Office of Petitions, the Office of Patent Legal Administration and the MPEP Staff Office](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(b).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(c) Petitions and Requests Decided by the Technology Center Directors](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(c).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(c)(1) Petitions Decided by the Director of the Technology Center Who Oversees Licensing and Review](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(c)(1).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(c)(2) [Reserved]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(c)(2).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(c)(3) Petitions and Requests Decided by the Director of Technology Center 2900](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(c)(3).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(c)(4) Petitions Decided in the Central Reexamination Unit](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(c)(4).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(d) Petitions and Matters Decided by Supervisory Patent Examiners](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(d).md)
- [MPEP § 1002.02(e) [Reserved]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1002.02(e).md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S1001.01. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.