Can misspelled legends in patent drawings be corrected without applicant’s annotated sheets?

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.

Yes, correcting misspelled legends in patent drawings is one of the changes that can be made without requiring annotated sheets from the applicant. According to MPEP 608.02(w):

As a guide to the examiner, the following corrections are illustrative of those that may be suggested without requiring annotated sheets from the applicant: … (H) Correcting misspelled legends.

This provision allows for the correction of minor typographical errors in drawing legends, improving the accuracy of the patent application without the need for a formal submission of annotated sheets by the applicant.