What is the purpose of Form PTOL-37 in patent application allowance?

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.

Form PTOL-37, known as the “Notice of Allowability,” serves several important purposes in the patent application allowance process:

• It officially notifies the applicant that their application has been allowed.
• It provides a record of the examiner’s reasons for allowance.
• It lists any attachments or additional forms included with the notice.
• It indicates whether an interview was conducted.
• It specifies the allowed claims and any canceled claims.

According to MPEP 1302.03, “The examiner prepares the Notice of Allowability, form PTOL-37, if the application is being allowed.” This form is crucial for documenting the official allowance of a patent application and communicating essential information to the applicant.