# MPEP § 2710: Term Extensions or Adjustments for Delays Within the USPTO Under 35 U.S.C. 154

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2710

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 2710
- **Heading:** Term Extensions or Adjustments for Delays Within the USPTO Under 35 U.S.C. 154
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 2700 - Patent Terms, Adjustments, and Extensions / MPEP § 2710

## Text

Utility and plant patents issuing on applications filed on or after June
8, 1995, but before May 29, 2000, are eligible for the patent term extension provisions of
former
35 U.S.C.
154(b)
and
37 CFR 1.701
. See
MPEP § 2720
. Utility and
plant patents issuing on applications filed on or after May 29, 2000 are eligible for the
patent term adjustment provisions of
35 U.S.C. 154(b)
(effective May 29,
2000 and amended thereafter) and
37 CFR 1.702
-
1.705
. See
MPEP
§ 2730
. See
Thomas D. Sykes v. Jon W. Dudas,
573 F. Supp. 2d 191, 89 USPQ2d 1423 (D.D.C. 2008).
Plant and utility patents issuing on applications filed before June 8,
1995 which have a term that is the greater of the “twenty-year term” (see
MPEP §
2701
) or seventeen years from patent grant are
not
eligible for term extension or adjustment due to delays in
processing the patent application by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Since the term of a design patent is not affected by the length of time
prosecution takes place, there are no patent term adjustment provisions for design patents.
The term “design patents” includes patents issued from design applications filed under
35 U.S.C.
111
and international design applications filed under
35 U.S.C.
385
.
[top]

## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 2701 Patent Term](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2701.md)
- [MPEP § 2710 Term Extensions or Adjustments for Delays Within the USPTO Under 35 U.S.C. 154](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2710.md)
- [MPEP § 2720 Applications Filed Between June 8, 1995, and May 28, 2000](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2720.md)
- [MPEP § 2730 Applications Filed on or After May 29, 2000; Grounds for Adjustment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2730.md)
- [MPEP § 2731 Period of Adjustment](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2731.md)
- [MPEP § 2732 Reduction of Period of Adjustment of Patent Term](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2732.md)
- [MPEP § 2733 Patent Term Adjustment Determination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2733.md)
- [MPEP § 2734 Application for Patent Term Adjustment; Due Care Showing](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2734.md)
- [MPEP § 2735 [Reserved]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2735.md)
- [MPEP § 2736 Third-Party Papers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2736.md)
- [MPEP § 2750 Patent Term Extension for Delays at other Agencies under 35 U.S.C. 156](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2750.md)
- [MPEP § 2751 Eligibility Requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2751.md)
- [MPEP § 2752 Patent Term Extension Applicant](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2752.md)
- [MPEP § 2753 Application Contents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2753.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S2710. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.