T.M.E.P. § 1710.01
Basis for Granting or Denying Petition

Executive summary:

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1710.01 Basis for Granting or Denying Petition

Invoking supervisory authority under 37 C.F.R. 2.146 to make an application "special" is an extraordinary remedy that is granted only when very special circumstances exist, such as a demonstrable possibility of the loss of substantial rights. A petition to make "special" is denied when the circumstances would apply equally to a large number of other applicants.

The fact that the applicant is about to embark on an advertising campaign is not considered a circumstance that justifies advancement of an application out of the normal order of examination, because this situation applies to a substantial number of applicants.

The most common reasons for granting petitions to make "special" are the existence of actual or threatened infringement, or pending litigation, or the need for a registration as a basis for securing foreign registration.