Can a protest be submitted after a notice of allowance has been issued?

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Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based) BlueIron Update: 2024-09-30 10 Rules 5 Related FAQs This page is an FAQ based on guidance 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. No, a protest cannot be submitted after a notice of allowance has been issued. According to MPEP 1901.04 : “ A protest submitted on or after the date a notice of allowance under 37 CFR 1.311 was given or mailed will not be entered and will be discarded pursuant to 37 CFR 1.291(g). “ This means that any protest received after the notice of allowance will not be considered and will be discarded by the USPTO. It’s crucial for protestors to submit their protests as early as possible in the examination process to ensure they are considered. Related Rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure 10 rules Collapse Protest Must Be Filed Before Notice of Allowance And Have Applicant’s Consent MPEP 1901 Required Protest Must Be Filed Before Notice of Allowance MPEP 1901 Required Protest After Allowance Not Allowed MPEP 1901.04 Protest Must Be Submitted Promptly After Awareness of Application MPEP 1901.04 Recommended Early Protest Submission Benefits Examination MPEP 1901.04 Protest Must Be Filed Before Publication Or Allowance MPEP 1901 Required Protests Must Be Filed Before Publication Or Allowance MPEP 1901 Required Portion of Non-English Document Must Be Submitted with Translation MPEP 1901 Required Information Required for Protest Matching MPEP 1901 Recommended Insufficient Information for Protest Matching MPEP 1901 Prohibited Other Related FAQs 5 FAQs Collapse Can a protest be submitted anonymously? How does the publication of an international application affect the protest submission period? What is the deadline for submitting a protest against a patent application? What happens if a protest is filed after the final rejection in a patent application? What is the deadline for submitting a pr...