What is the purpose of interviews prior to first Office action in patent applications?

Interviews prior to the first Office action in patent applications serve several important purposes:

  • To discuss and clarify the invention and claims
  • To identify and resolve potential issues early in the examination process
  • To expedite prosecution by addressing concerns before formal Office actions
  • To establish a better understanding between the examiner and the applicant

As stated in MPEP 713.02: ‘Interviews that are solely for the purpose of sounding out the examiner … should not be permitted.’ This emphasizes that interviews should have a substantive purpose related to advancing prosecution.

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Tags: Examiner Interviews, first office action, patent interviews, patent prosecution