MPEP § 707.07(a) — Complete Action on Formal Matters (Annotated Rules)
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 707.07(a), 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.
Complete Action on Formal Matters
This section addresses Complete Action on Formal Matters. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.111(b).
Key Rules
Mandatory Requirements (1)
Any form that lists informalities and any additional formal requirements which the examiner desires to make should be included in the first action.
Conditional Requirements (1)
When any formal requirement is made in an examiner’s action, that action should, in all cases where it indicates allowable subject matter, call attention to 37 CFR 1.111(b) and state that a complete reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with.
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| – | 37 CFR § 1.111(b) |
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.
Official MPEP § 707.07(a) — Complete Action on Formal Matters
Source: USPTO707.07(a) Complete Action on Formal Matters [R-08.1012]
Any form that lists informalities and any additional formal requirements which the examiner desires to make should be included in the first action.
When any formal requirement is made in an examiner’s action, that action should, in all cases where it indicates allowable subject matter, call attention to 37 CFR 1.111(b) and state that a complete reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with.
¶ 7.43.03 Allowable Subject Matter, Formal Requirements Outstanding
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant’s reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Examiner Note:
This form paragraph would be appropriate when changes (for example, drawing corrections or corrections to the specification) must be made prior to allowance.