When filing an extension of time to keep a parent application co-pending, what is required?

When seeking an extension of time to keep a parent application co-pending, it is important to understand the requirements under patent examiner protocols. The correct choice indicates that no response is necessary to accompany the filing of the extension. This is because an extension of time can be requested purely to preserve the application’s status without needing to respond to any outstanding action or requirement from the patent office.

The rationale behind this lies in the fact that an extension is a procedural mechanism intended to allow inventors and applicants additional time to prepare a response or to finalize their application without having to immediately address outstanding issues. It is specifically designed to give applicants leeway without being tied to the immediate submission of a response or supplementary documentation.

This option recognizes the flexibility provided within the patent process, where applicants may require time to gather resources, formulate responses, or make decisions regarding their applications. In such cases, the extension acts as a safeguard for maintaining the application’s active status.

Other choices imply additional requirements or conditions that are not necessary for filing an extension, such as needing to submit a new application or a formal request, which aren't mandated under the specific circumstances of keeping the parent application co-pending.