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Law Office M70·Active·Examining since 1991

A senior examiner

19,916 applications analyzed·last OA Sep 16, 2026

18.3%−5.8pp vs corpsSubstantive refusalLast 2 yrsn=3,126 examinedThe base is every examined app, approvals included; substantive grounds only.40.9%−1.1pp vs corpsEscalates to Finaln=2,762 merits-resolved refusalsMerits-resolved = ended Final or approved; abandons with no response on file sit out.61.9%−2.2pp vs corpsWithdrawn when contestedn=2,957 contested refusalsContested = at least one response filed. Contesting then abandoning counts as a loss.
Difficulty 7 out of 10,more difficult than 60% of active examiners7/10
7/10Medium
DifficultyHow hard a refusal from this examiner is to overcome, ranked 1 to 10 against active examiners. Weighted toward post-refusal behavior; refusal frequency counts least.
Why 7/10? ▾

Winnability vs the active examining corps: how hard to overcome once refused.

Holds after a response · 35% of score

Once refused, how often they push it to a Final rather than withdraw.

near corps (−0.2σ)

Won't withdraw post-Final · 25% of score

When applicants answer a Final §2(d), how rarely the refusal comes off.

above corps (+0.6σ)

Refusal rate (basis-adjusted) · 20% of score

Refuses more than expected for their filing-basis mix.

near corps (+0.1σ)

Sticks through TTAB appeal · 12% of score

When an applicant pursues a TTAB appeal, how often the refusal sticks.

well above corps (+1.5σ)

Grinds extra rounds · 8% of score

More office-action rounds to reach resolution.

near corps (−0.0σ)

Weights renormalized over available signals.
Decile across active examiners, n≥30.

More difficult than 60% of active examiners.

Refusal groundsBase = apps with classified refusal grounds. Mechanical requirements (specimens, disclaimers, IDs) are excluded.
Independent rates, don't sum to 100%
66%§2(d) confusioncorps 64% · +2pp
30%Descriptive, surname & geo §2(e)corps 30% · ±1pp
10%Other substantivecorps 14% · −4pp

Cites two or more grounds at once on 6% of ground-classified apps.

Filing → first office actionRound-1 apps only; transfers sit out. Corps median 160 days in the same window.
Median · last 2 yrs · mostly queue time
154 days~ 5.1 months

−6 days vs corps

Examiner’s amendmentsCorps 30% in the same 2-yr window.
Share of interventions where an amendment could work · last 2 yrs
29%± 1pp vs corps

345 of 1,188 amendment-eligible interventions

Refusal rate by classA multi-class app counts in each of its classes. Ground shares don't sum to 100%. Rates publish at 25+ examined in the class, shares at 10+ classified refusals; thinner cells show –.
Colored vs the corps in the same class
ClassRefusalShare of examined apps in this class that drew a substantive refusal.§2(d)Of this class's ground-classified refused apps, the share citing §2(d).§2(e)Of this class's ground-classified refused apps, the share citing §2(e).OtherOf this class's ground-classified refused apps, the share citing Other.
Electronics & software · 009 · n=3,01327%71%28%6%
Advertising & business services · 035 · n=2,72931%67%35%4%
Education & entertainment · 041 · n=2,64528%64%37%6%
Clothing & footwear · 025 · n=2,21735%67%11%32%
Science & technology (software) · 042 · n=1,82527%67%37%4%
Insurance & financial services · 036 · n=1,07032%67%36%2%
Cosmetics & cleaning · 003 · n=97229%79%20%6%
Paper & printed matter · 016 · n=96428%53%28%24%
Pharmaceuticals · 005 · n=88227%76%27%5%
Toys, games & sporting goods · 028 · n=84622%79%19%7%
All 48 classes ▾
Household utensils & glassware · 021 · n=72122%67%22%14%
Staple foods & bakery · 030 · n=69733%64%37%8%
Medical & beauty services · 044 · n=67530%68%38%3%
Food & drink services · 043 · n=66230%71%29%4%
Medical apparatus · 010 · n=54524%76%27%4%
Appliances (lighting/heating) · 011 · n=53623%74%23%7%
Construction & repair · 037 · n=50931%72%32%3%
Legal & security services · 045 · n=49825%64%36%6%
Furniture · 020 · n=49023%68%30%4%
Meats, dairy & processed foods · 029 · n=42334%62%41%11%
Machines & machine tools · 007 · n=40823%76%33%6%
Leather goods & luggage · 018 · n=38429%71%17%16%
Beers & non-alcoholic drinks · 032 · n=37523%81%19%11%
Jewelry & watches · 014 · n=37027%66%21%22%
Vehicles · 012 · n=36926%74%26%5%
Telecommunications · 038 · n=36228%75%29%2%
Wines & spirits · 033 · n=36133%65%27%16%
Chemicals · 001 · n=29026%60%36%11%
Transport & storage · 039 · n=28034%67%41%4%
Treatment of materials · 040 · n=27432%69%36%6%
Agricultural & natural products · 031 · n=26235%55%37%27%
Metal goods & hardware · 006 · n=21326%73%24%4%
Fabrics & textiles · 024 · n=21325%75%24%10%
Hand tools · 008 · n=19725%74%15%13%
Non-metal building materials · 019 · n=17827%54%48%8%
Tobacco & smokers' articles · 034 · n=14329%76%24%0%
Lace, ribbons & notions · 026 · n=12116%74%21%11%
Lubricants & fuels · 004 · n=11824%75%25%14%
Rubber & plastics · 017 · n=11022%61%39%9%
Paints & coatings · 002 · n=8224%55%35%10%
Carpets & floor coverings · 027 · n=7519%50%50%7%
Cordage & raw textiles · 022 · n=5718%90%10%0%
Firearms & fireworks · 013 · n=5040%67%56%6%
Musical instruments · 015 · n=3726%–––
Unclassified · B · n=3231%40%80%0%
Unclassified · A · n=16––––
Yarns & threads · 023 · n=15––––
Class 200 · 200 · n=9––––

Refusal shading is green below the corps and red above it. Ground shading is neutral: depth marks distance from the typical examiner in that class, ▲ above and ▼ below.

Refusal rate by year
Substantive refusals · per-year n · last 5 complete years

The read: easing, gently: down about 5 points from 2021 to 2025.

15%25%35%2021n=12732022n=14302023n=13652024n=14862025n=1488corps 28.2% · since 2007, drawn flat
Fine print · complements & timing

Data as of Sep 17, 2026 · Built on the public USPTO record

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