Can an applicant request reconsideration after final rejection without amending claims?

Yes, an applicant can request reconsideration after final rejection without amending claims. The MPEP 714.12 states:

“An amendment after final rejection … may be made with or without request for reconsideration.”

This means that an applicant can submit arguments for reconsideration without necessarily proposing amendments to the claims. Such a request might involve pointing out errors in the examiner’s reasoning or providing evidence to support the patentability of the claims as they stand.

To learn more:

• reconsideration request
• final rejection
• patent examination procedure