How are charges against deposit accounts handled in examiner’s amendments?

Examiner’s amendments can be used to make charges against deposit accounts under specific conditions. According to MPEP 1302.04:

“An examiner’s amendment can be used to make a charge against a deposit account, provided prior approval is obtained from the applicant, attorney or agent, in order to expedite the issuance of a patent on an application otherwise ready for allowance.”

The process involves the following steps:

1. Obtain prior approval from the applicant, attorney, or agent.
2. Prepare the examiner’s amendment indicating the prior approval.
3. Include the following information:
   • Name of the authorizing party
   • Date and type (personal or telephone) of authorization
   • Purpose for the charge (e.g., additional claims)
   • Deposit account number

This procedure allows for efficient handling of necessary fees during the final stages of patent prosecution.

To learn more:

• deposit accounts
• examiner’s amendments
• patent fees
• USPTO