What actions can an applicant take when their patent application is ‘rejected’?

When a patent application is ‘rejected’, the applicant has several options:

1. Respond to the examiner’s action within the allotted reply period
2. Request an interview with the examiner to discuss the rejection
3. File an amendment to address the examiner’s concerns
4. Present arguments challenging the rejection
5. Allow the application to become abandoned if they choose not to pursue it further

According to MPEP 203.02:

Its status as a ‘rejected’ application continues as such until acted upon by the applicant in reply to the examiner’s action (within the allotted reply period), or until it becomes abandoned.

The most crucial action is to respond within the specified timeframe to prevent the application from becoming abandoned.

To learn more:

• rejected application
• patent prosecution
• applicant response
• patent examination