What are the consequences of submitting informal drawings in a patent application?

Submitting informal drawings in a patent application can have several consequences:

• The application may be considered incomplete, potentially affecting the filing date.
• The examiner may object to the drawings and require formal drawings to be submitted.
• It may delay the examination process.
• In some cases, it could result in a loss of patent rights if not corrected in time.

MPEP 608.02(b) states: ‘The Office no longer considers drawings as formal or informal; drawings are either acceptable or not acceptable. Drawings will be accepted by the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) if the drawings meet the requirements of 37 CFR 1.84(a), (b), (c), and (e) and are capable of reproduction.’

It’s important to note that while the USPTO may accept informal drawings initially, they may still be objected to during examination, requiring corrections to be made.

To learn more:

• informal drawings
• patent application
• drawing requirements

To learn more:

• USPTO requirements
• examination delays