What are the requirements for submitting drawings in a reissue application?

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.

When submitting drawings for a reissue application, the following requirements must be met:

• A clean copy of each drawing sheet from the printed patent must be submitted at the time of filing the reissue application.
• If the clean copies comply with 37 CFR 1.84, no further formal drawings will be required.
• New drawing sheets should not be submitted unless changes are being made to the original patent drawings.
• Any changes to the drawings must be made in accordance with 37 CFR 1.173(b)(3).

As stated in the MPEP:

“A clean copy (e.g., good quality photocopies free of any extraneous markings) of each drawing sheet of the printed patent must be supplied by the applicant at the time of filing of the reissue application.”