What happens if the Office of Data Management receives unacceptable drawings for publication?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

If the Office of Data Management receives drawings that cannot be scanned or are otherwise unacceptable for publication, they will take the following action:

If the Office of Data Management receives drawings that cannot be scanned or are otherwise unacceptable for publication, the Office of Data Management will mail a requirement for corrected drawings, giving applicant a shortened statutory period of two months to reply.

This process ensures that only high-quality, publishable drawings are included in the final patent publication. Applicants should be prepared to respond quickly to such requests to avoid delays in the patent granting process.