37 CFR § 1.485 — Amendments by applicant during international (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 1.485, including 51 rules 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.

Summary

This section provides detailed guidance on amendments filed under PCT Article 34 at the time of filing the demand, including rules and procedures for making such amendments, ensuring clarity and compliance with international patent filings.

What this section covers

Defines that this section covers amendments filed under PCT Article 34 at the time of filing the demand.

Key obligations

States that applicants must file amendments at the time of filing the demand under PCT Article 34.
States that amendments must be filed in accordance with the rules and procedures set forth by the PCT.
States that amendments filed under PCT Article 34 are subject to the provisions of 37 CFR 1.485.

Practice notes

Advises practitioners to ensure all necessary amendments are included in the initial filing under PCT Article 34.
Warns practitioners about potential delays and additional costs associated with filing amendments after the initial demand has been filed.

Applicant May Amend at Filing or Within Time LimitMPEP 1864.01Permitted
Amendments Must Be Made Within Time Limit Set by IPEAMPEP 1864.01Required
Applicant May Amend Claims, Description, and Drawings Before IPEA ReportMPEP 1864.01
Amendments Within ISA or IPEA Written Opinion Reply PeriodsMPEP 1864.01Permitted
Replacement Sheet Requirement for Amended SheetsMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendment Letter Explaining Changes and ReasonsMPEP 1864.01Required
Letter Must Indicate Basis for Amendment in ApplicationMPEP 1864.01Required
Basis for Amendment Must Refer to Original ApplicationMPEP 1864.01Required
Complete Set of Claims Required for AmendmentMPEP 1864.01Required
Replacement Sheet for Amended Sheets RequiredMPEP 1864.01Recommended
Minor Alterations Permitted on Copy SheetMPEP 1864.01Permitted
Amendment Letter for Entire Sheet CancellationMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendments and Letters Must Be in Language of PublicationMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendments Must Be Translated for International Preliminary ExaminationMPEP 1864.01Required
No Fee for Article 34(2)(b) AmendmentsMPEP 1864.01
Amendments and Letters Must Be in Required LanguageMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendments Must Be Filed Within Time LimitMPEP 1864.01Prohibited
Applicant May Amend at Filing or Within Time Limit for PCT ReplyMPEP 1878.02Permitted
Applicant May Amend Within Time Limit Set by IPEAMPEP 1878.02Required
Requirement for Filing Reply to ISA Written Opinion with IPEAMPEP 1878.02
Amendments Must Be Received Within Reply PeriodMPEP 1878.02Required
Amendments Must Be Filed By Reply DeadlineMPEP 1878.02
Late Amendments Not Considered Unless Favorable Report LikelyMPEP 1878.02Prohibited
Amendments Must Be Filed Promptly During International Preliminary ExaminationMPEP 1878.02
No Extensions for Written Opinion RepliesMPEP 1878.02
No Extensions for Reply to Written OpinionMPEP 1878.02Permitted
Amendments Must Rectify Obvious Mistakes OnlyMPEP 1878.02
IPEA Does Not Accept Non-English Applications Or AmendmentsMPEP 1878.02
Amendments Must Use Replacement SheetsMPEP 1878.02Required
Claims Must Be Replaced Entirely on Reply to Written OpinionMPEP 1878.02Required
Letter Required for Claim Amendments During PCT ExaminationMPEP 1878.02Required
Amendment Cancelling Entire Sheet Must Be Submitted as LetterMPEP 1878.02Required
Replacement Sheets Must Be Typed Clean CopiesMPEP 1878.02Recommended
Marked-Up and Clean Copies Required for AmendmentsMPEP 1878.02Permitted
Letter Accompanying Non-Letter Paper RequiredMPEP 1878.02Required
Letter Must Highlight Differences Between Replaced and Replacement SheetMPEP 1878.02Required
Amendments Must Not Add New MatterMPEP 1878.02Recommended
Amendments Must Be Substantiated by Original ApplicationMPEP 1878.02Prohibited
Amendments Must Not Introduce New MatterMPEP 1878.02Required
Remainder of Replacement Sheet Considered for ReportMPEP 1878.02
Request for Interview During PCT ExaminationMPEP 1878.02Permitted
One Interview Is Required, Additional Interviews May Be AuthorizedMPEP 1878.02Permitted
Informal Communication with Applicant Must Be Recorded Using PCT/IPEA/428 NoticeMPEP 1878.02Required
Interview Topics Must Be StatedMPEP 1878.02Recommended
Interview Records Must Indicate Examiner's Next StepsMPEP 1878.02Recommended
Timely Reply Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02Required
Timely Reply Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02
Timely Reply to Written Opinion Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02
Timely Reply Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02Permitted
Applicant May Amend or Argue Against Authority OpinionMPEP 1878.02Permitted

Amendments Must Be Made Within Time Limit Set by IPEAMPEP 1864.01Required
Replacement Sheet Requirement for Amended SheetsMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendment Letter Explaining Changes and ReasonsMPEP 1864.01Required
Letter Must Indicate Basis for Amendment in ApplicationMPEP 1864.01Required
Basis for Amendment Must Refer to Original ApplicationMPEP 1864.01Required
Complete Set of Claims Required for AmendmentMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendment Letter for Entire Sheet CancellationMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendments and Letters Must Be in Language of PublicationMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendments Must Be Translated for International Preliminary ExaminationMPEP 1864.01Required
Amendments and Letters Must Be in Required LanguageMPEP 1864.01Required
Applicant May Amend Within Time Limit Set by IPEAMPEP 1878.02Required
Amendments Must Be Received Within Reply PeriodMPEP 1878.02Required
Amendments Must Use Replacement SheetsMPEP 1878.02Required
Claims Must Be Replaced Entirely on Reply to Written OpinionMPEP 1878.02Required
Letter Required for Claim Amendments During PCT ExaminationMPEP 1878.02Required
Amendment Cancelling Entire Sheet Must Be Submitted as LetterMPEP 1878.02Required
Letter Accompanying Non-Letter Paper RequiredMPEP 1878.02Required
Letter Must Highlight Differences Between Replaced and Replacement SheetMPEP 1878.02Required
Amendments Must Not Introduce New MatterMPEP 1878.02Required
Informal Communication with Applicant Must Be Recorded Using PCT/IPEA/428 NoticeMPEP 1878.02Required
Timely Reply Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02Required

Amendments Filed During International Preliminary ExaminationMPEP 1864.01

MPEP Section	Rules
MPEP § 1864.01	Applicant May Amend at Filing or Within Time LimitMPEP 1864.01Permitted Amendments Must Be Made Within Time Limit Set by IPEAMPEP 1864.01Required Applicant May Amend Claims, Description, and Drawings Before IPEA ReportMPEP 1864.01 Amendments Within ISA or IPEA Written Opinion Reply PeriodsMPEP 1864.01Permitted Amendments Filed During International Preliminary ExaminationMPEP 1864.01 Replacement Sheet Requirement for Amended SheetsMPEP 1864.01Required Amendment Letter Explaining Changes and ReasonsMPEP 1864.01Required Letter Must Indicate Basis for Amendment in ApplicationMPEP 1864.01Required Basis for Amendment Must Refer to Original ApplicationMPEP 1864.01Required Complete Set of Claims Required for AmendmentMPEP 1864.01Required Replacement Sheet for Amended Sheets RequiredMPEP 1864.01Recommended Minor Alterations Permitted on Copy SheetMPEP 1864.01Permitted Amendment Letter for Entire Sheet CancellationMPEP 1864.01Required Amendments and Letters Must Be in Language of PublicationMPEP 1864.01Required Amendments Must Be Translated for International Preliminary ExaminationMPEP 1864.01Required No Fee for Article 34(2)(b) AmendmentsMPEP 1864.01 Amendments and Letters Must Be in Required LanguageMPEP 1864.01Required Amendments Must Be Filed Within Time LimitMPEP 1864.01Prohibited
MPEP § 1878.02	Applicant May Amend at Filing or Within Time Limit for PCT ReplyMPEP 1878.02Permitted Applicant May Amend Within Time Limit Set by IPEAMPEP 1878.02Required Requirement for Filing Reply to ISA Written Opinion with IPEAMPEP 1878.02 Amendments Must Be Received Within Reply PeriodMPEP 1878.02Required Amendments Must Be Filed By Reply DeadlineMPEP 1878.02 Late Amendments Not Considered Unless Favorable Report LikelyMPEP 1878.02Prohibited Amendments Must Be Filed Promptly During International Preliminary ExaminationMPEP 1878.02 No Extensions for Written Opinion RepliesMPEP 1878.02 No Extensions for Reply to Written OpinionMPEP 1878.02Permitted Amendments Must Rectify Obvious Mistakes OnlyMPEP 1878.02 IPEA Does Not Accept Non-English Applications Or AmendmentsMPEP 1878.02 Amendments Must Use Replacement SheetsMPEP 1878.02Required Claims Must Be Replaced Entirely on Reply to Written OpinionMPEP 1878.02Required Letter Required for Claim Amendments During PCT ExaminationMPEP 1878.02Required Amendment Cancelling Entire Sheet Must Be Submitted as LetterMPEP 1878.02Required Replacement Sheets Must Be Typed Clean CopiesMPEP 1878.02Recommended Marked-Up and Clean Copies Required for AmendmentsMPEP 1878.02Permitted Letter Accompanying Non-Letter Paper RequiredMPEP 1878.02Required Letter Must Highlight Differences Between Replaced and Replacement SheetMPEP 1878.02Required Amendments Must Not Add New MatterMPEP 1878.02Recommended Amendments Must Be Substantiated by Original ApplicationMPEP 1878.02Prohibited Amendments Must Not Introduce New MatterMPEP 1878.02Required Remainder of Replacement Sheet Considered for ReportMPEP 1878.02 Request for Interview During PCT ExaminationMPEP 1878.02Permitted One Interview Is Required, Additional Interviews May Be AuthorizedMPEP 1878.02Permitted Informal Communication with Applicant Must Be Recorded Using PCT/IPEA/428 NoticeMPEP 1878.02Required Interview Topics Must Be StatedMPEP 1878.02Recommended Interview Records Must Indicate Examiner's Next StepsMPEP 1878.02Recommended Timely Reply Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02Required Timely Reply Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02 Timely Reply to Written Opinion Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02 Timely Reply Required for ConsiderationMPEP 1878.02Permitted Applicant May Amend or Argue Against Authority OpinionMPEP 1878.02Permitted

MPEP Section

Rules

MPEP § 1864.01