# MPEP § 803.01: Review by Examiner with at Least Partial Signatory Authority

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.01

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 803.01
- **Heading:** Review by Examiner with at Least Partial Signatory Authority
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 0800 - Restriction in Applications Filed Under 35 U.S.C. 111 › Double Patenting / MPEP § 803.01

## Text

Since requirements for restriction under
35 U.S.C. 121
are
discretionary with the Director, it becomes very important that the practice under this
section be carefully administered. Notwithstanding the fact that this section of the
statute apparently protects the applicant against the dangers that previously might have
resulted from compliance with an improper requirement for restriction, IT STILL REMAINS
IMPORTANT FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST THAT NO REQUIREMENT BE MADE WHICH
MIGHT RESULT IN THE ISSUANCE OF TWO PATENTS FOR THE SAME INVENTION. See
MPEP §
804.01
. Therefore, to guard against this possibility, only an
examiner with permanent
full
signatory authority or temporary
full
signatory authority may sign final Office actions
containing a final requirement for restriction. An examiner with permanent
partial
signatory authority or temporary
partial
signatory authority may sign non-final Office actions
containing a final requirement for restriction.

## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 801 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S801.md)
- [MPEP § 802 Basis for Restriction Practice in Statute and Rules](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S802.md)
- [MPEP § 802.01 Meaning of “Independent” and “Distinct”](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S802.01.md)
- [MPEP § 802.02 Definition of Restriction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S802.02.md)
- [MPEP § 803 Restriction — When Proper](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.md)
- [MPEP § 803.01 Review by Examiner with at Least Partial Signatory Authority](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.01.md)
- [MPEP § 803.02 Election of Species Requirements – Markush Claims](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.02.md)
- [MPEP § 803.03 Transitional Applications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.03.md)
- [MPEP § 803.03(a) Transitional Application — Linking Claim Allowable](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.03(a).md)
- [MPEP § 803.03(b) Transitional Application — Generic Claim Allowable](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.03(b).md)
- [MPEP § 803.04 Nucleotide Sequences](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.04.md)
- [MPEP § 803.05 Reissue Application Practice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.05.md)
- [MPEP § 804 Definition of Double Patenting](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S804.md)
- [MPEP § 804.01 Prohibition of Nonstatutory Double Patenting Rejections Under 35 U.S.C. 121](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S804.01.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S803.01. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.