How can patent applicants avoid abandonment of their application?
To avoid abandonment of a patent application, applicants should ensure their responses are completely responsive to the preceding Office action. According to MPEP 714.05:
“If found inadequate, and sufficient time remains, applicant should be notified of the deficiencies and warned to complete the reply within the period.”
To avoid abandonment, applicants should:
- Submit responses well before the end of the reply period
- Ensure all requirements in the Office action are addressed
- Comply with all applicable regulations, especially 37 CFR 1.121
- Promptly respond to any notifications of deficiencies from the examiner
- If needed, request an extension of time before the reply period expires
For more information on responding to Office actions, refer to MPEP 714.03 and MPEP 714.04.
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