How are amendments concerning formal matters handled under 37 CFR 1.312?

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.

Amendments concerning formal matters under 37 CFR 1.312 are handled as follows:

• The examiner can approve entry without supervisory patent examiner submission
• The examiner writes ‘Enter’ on the amendment using the stamper tool in Adobe Acrobat
• A Response to Rule 312 Communication form PTO-271 is date stamped and mailed by the Technology Center

The MPEP states: The examiner indicates approval of amendments concerning merely formal matters by writing ‘Enter’ thereon with the stamper tool in Adobe Acrobat. Such amendments do not require submission to the supervisory patent examiner prior to entry. (MPEP 714.16(d))