Can a patent application be filed without drawings?
Can a patent application be filed without drawings?
In most cases, a patent application should include drawings if they are necessary to understand the invention. However, there are situations where an application can be filed without drawings. As stated in MPEP 601.01(f): ‘If the specification includes a sequence listing or large tables, those elements may be submitted as electronic files in ASCII text format.’
For applications that do require drawings, but are filed without them, the USPTO will send a Notice to File Missing Parts. The applicant can then submit the drawings within a specified time period, typically two months, extendable up to seven months with fees. However, it’s important to note that adding new drawings may be considered new matter if they introduce elements not described in the original specification.
Design patent applications, which are based entirely on the visual appearance of an item, always require drawings and cannot be filed without them.
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