What constitutes a fully responsive reply to a non-final Office action?
A fully responsive reply to a non-final Office action must address all objections and rejections raised by the examiner. According to MPEP 714.02:
‘The reply must present arguments pointing out the specific distinctions believed to render the claims, including any newly presented claims, patentable over any applied references.’
This means that applicants should:
- Respond to each rejection and objection
- Provide specific arguments for patentability
- Address all applied references
- Explain how any claim amendments overcome the rejections
Failure to do so may result in the reply being considered non-responsive.
To learn more: