MPEP § 608.02(w) — Drawing Changes Which May Be Made Without Applicant’s Annotated Sheets (Annotated Rules)

§608.02(w) Drawing Changes Which May Be Made Without Applicant’s Annotated Sheets

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 608.02(w), including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Drawing Changes Which May Be Made Without Applicant’s Annotated Sheets

This section addresses Drawing Changes Which May Be Made Without Applicant’s Annotated Sheets. Contains: 1 guidance statement and 2 permissions.

Key Rules

Topic

Copies and Certified Documents

2 rules
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-608-02-w-0f135678b6b104fb268fcf72]
Examiner Will Notify Applicant of Drawing Defect
Note:
The examiner will notify the applicant of a slight drawing defect and indicate the change needed to be made, including a marked-up copy of the drawing.

Where an application is ready for issue except for a slight defect in the drawing not involving change in structure, the examiner will prepare a letter to the applicant indicating the change to be made and may include a marked-up copy of the drawing showing the addition or alteration to be made. The marked-up copy of the drawing should be attached to the letter to the applicant made of record in the application file.

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MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-608-02-w-d0292d0dc9a7882de106be7c]
Marked-Up Drawing Copy Must Be Attached to Letter to Applicant
Note:
The examiner must attach a marked-up copy of the drawing showing any necessary additions or alterations to the letter to the applicant.

Where an application is ready for issue except for a slight defect in the drawing not involving change in structure, the examiner will prepare a letter to the applicant indicating the change to be made and may include a marked-up copy of the drawing showing the addition or alteration to be made. The marked-up copy of the drawing should be attached to the letter to the applicant made of record in the application file.

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Topic

Drawings

1 rules
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-608-02-w-016612e32b7fe92f4898d822]
Drawing Changes Permitted Without Annotated Sheets
Note:
Examiner may suggest corrections to drawings including adding reference characters, changing numerals, and removing superfluous matter without requiring annotated sheets from the applicant.
As a guide to the examiner, the following corrections are illustrative of those that may be suggested without requiring annotated sheets from the applicant:
  • (A) Adding two or three reference characters or exponents.
  • (B) Changing one or two numerals or figure ordinals.
  • (C) Removing superfluous matter.
  • (D) Adding or reversing directional arrows.
  • (E) Changing Roman Numerals to Arabic Numerals to agree with specification.
  • (F) Adding section lines or brackets, where easily executed.
  • (G) Changing lead lines.
  • (H) Correcting misspelled legends.
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Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31