Which of the following delay reasons is NOT considered for PTA claims?

In the context of Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) claims, delays that are attributed purely to the applicant's actions are not considered. PTA is aimed at compensating applicants for certain delays that occur during the patent examination process, recognizing that delays not caused by the applicant should warrant an extension of patent term.

When assessing PTA calculations, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) excludes applicant-induced delays from the determination of PTA. This includes instances where the applicant may have caused a delay by failing to respond timely to Office actions or by taking certain actions that slow down the process. In contrast, delays resulting from other factors, such as secrecy orders, successful appeals, or interferences, are taken into account because these factors are beyond the applicant's control and affect the overall timeline of the patent application process.

Hence, the reasoning behind this is that the PTA is designed to protect applicants from delays that are not their fault, and purely applicant-driven delays do not fit this purpose. Such distinctions help ensure that the patent system remains fair and equitable, while providing appropriate remedies for external delays.