Which of the following factors cuts into your patent term that will not be adjusted for via PTA?

The correct response highlights a critical aspect of patent prosecution that directly affects the term of a patent. When a Request for Continued Examination (RCE) is filed, it can lead to the loss of unadjusted term for the patent being examined. This is because the filing of an RCE is seen as an indication that the applicant is not yet ready for the patent to be issued, potentially extending the examination process without any compensatory adjustments to the patent term.

In contrast, claiming priority from a provisional application and delays associated with international filings are factors that generally do not affect the final patent term in this same way. Specifically, claiming priority typically allows for earlier filing dates to be considered, which can ultimately preserve the patent term. Moreover, delays in international filings often relate to obligations under international treaties rather than the direct patent prosecution process that RCEs pertain to.

Thus, it is crucial for applicants to understand the implications of filing an RCE, as it effectively represents a decision to continue negotiating with the patent office rather than moving towards patent issuance, thereby shortening the available patent term without the benefit of adjustments provided through Patent Term Adjustment (PTA).