Patent Law FAQ

The Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) performs an initial review of drawings in new utility and plant patent applications to determine whether the drawings can be effectively scanned for publication purposes. As stated in the MPEP:

“OPAP inspects the drawings to see if they can be effectively scanned and adequately reproduced.”

This review ensures that the drawings meet the necessary quality standards for publication and reproduction.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.

If a drawing is not acceptable for publication, the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) will object to the drawing and notify the applicant. The applicant will be given a time period of two months from the mail date of the Notice to file acceptable drawings. This period is extendable under 37 CFR 1.136(a) or (b) for patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111, but not for design applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 171. Failure to comply with the Notice within the time period will result in abandonment of the application.

The USPTO handles informal drawings in patent applications as follows:

• If the drawings are informal but otherwise sufficient for examination, the USPTO will accept them provisionally.
• The drawings will be approved by the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) for publication purposes.
• Formal drawings will be required if the application is allowed.

According to MPEP 507: ‘If the drawings are informal but otherwise in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), the OPAP will accept the application for purposes of publication and place a ‘Drawing Informalities’ form PTO-948 in the file wrapper.’

The examiner may require formal drawings or corrections in a subsequent office action if necessary for a proper examination or if the application is allowed.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on informal drawings, visit: informal drawings.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.

The Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) performs an initial review of drawings in new utility and plant patent applications to determine whether the drawings can be effectively scanned for publication purposes. As stated in the MPEP:

“OPAP inspects the drawings to see if they can be effectively scanned and adequately reproduced.”

This review ensures that the drawings meet the necessary quality standards for publication and reproduction.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.

If a drawing is not acceptable for publication, the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) will object to the drawing and notify the applicant. The applicant will be given a time period of two months from the mail date of the Notice to file acceptable drawings. This period is extendable under 37 CFR 1.136(a) or (b) for patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111, but not for design applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 171. Failure to comply with the Notice within the time period will result in abandonment of the application.

The USPTO handles informal drawings in patent applications as follows:

• If the drawings are informal but otherwise sufficient for examination, the USPTO will accept them provisionally.
• The drawings will be approved by the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) for publication purposes.
• Formal drawings will be required if the application is allowed.

According to MPEP 507: ‘If the drawings are informal but otherwise in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), the OPAP will accept the application for purposes of publication and place a ‘Drawing Informalities’ form PTO-948 in the file wrapper.’

The examiner may require formal drawings or corrections in a subsequent office action if necessary for a proper examination or if the application is allowed.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on informal drawings, visit: informal drawings.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.

The Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) performs an initial review of drawings in new utility and plant patent applications to determine whether the drawings can be effectively scanned for publication purposes. As stated in the MPEP:

“OPAP inspects the drawings to see if they can be effectively scanned and adequately reproduced.”

This review ensures that the drawings meet the necessary quality standards for publication and reproduction.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.

If a drawing is not acceptable for publication, the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) will object to the drawing and notify the applicant. The applicant will be given a time period of two months from the mail date of the Notice to file acceptable drawings. This period is extendable under 37 CFR 1.136(a) or (b) for patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111, but not for design applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 171. Failure to comply with the Notice within the time period will result in abandonment of the application.

The USPTO handles informal drawings in patent applications as follows:

• If the drawings are informal but otherwise sufficient for examination, the USPTO will accept them provisionally.
• The drawings will be approved by the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) for publication purposes.
• Formal drawings will be required if the application is allowed.

According to MPEP 507: ‘If the drawings are informal but otherwise in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), the OPAP will accept the application for purposes of publication and place a ‘Drawing Informalities’ form PTO-948 in the file wrapper.’

The examiner may require formal drawings or corrections in a subsequent office action if necessary for a proper examination or if the application is allowed.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on informal drawings, visit: informal drawings.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.

The Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) performs an initial review of drawings in new utility and plant patent applications to determine whether the drawings can be effectively scanned for publication purposes. As stated in the MPEP:

“OPAP inspects the drawings to see if they can be effectively scanned and adequately reproduced.”

This review ensures that the drawings meet the necessary quality standards for publication and reproduction.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.

If a drawing is not acceptable for publication, the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) will object to the drawing and notify the applicant. The applicant will be given a time period of two months from the mail date of the Notice to file acceptable drawings. This period is extendable under 37 CFR 1.136(a) or (b) for patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111, but not for design applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 171. Failure to comply with the Notice within the time period will result in abandonment of the application.

The USPTO handles informal drawings in patent applications as follows:

• If the drawings are informal but otherwise sufficient for examination, the USPTO will accept them provisionally.
• The drawings will be approved by the Office of Patent Application Processing (OPAP) for publication purposes.
• Formal drawings will be required if the application is allowed.

According to MPEP 507: ‘If the drawings are informal but otherwise in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d), the OPAP will accept the application for purposes of publication and place a ‘Drawing Informalities’ form PTO-948 in the file wrapper.’

The examiner may require formal drawings or corrections in a subsequent office action if necessary for a proper examination or if the application is allowed.

For more information on drawing review, visit: drawing review.

For more information on informal drawings, visit: informal drawings.

For more information on OPAP, visit: OPAP.