What are the requirements for making amendments to patent applications?
Amendments to patent applications must comply with 37 CFR 1.121. The key requirements include:
- Each section of an amendment document (e.g., Specification Amendments, Claim Amendments, Drawing Amendments, and Remarks) must begin on a separate sheet.
- Changes to the specification must be made by adding, deleting, or replacing a paragraph; by replacing a section; or by providing a substitute specification.
- For claim amendments, a complete listing of all claims ever presented must be provided, with status identifiers for each claim.
- Drawing amendments must be submitted on replacement sheets and identified as ‘Replacement Sheet’ or ‘New Sheet’.
The MPEP states: All amendments filed on or after July 30, 2003 must comply with 37 CFR 1.121 as revised in the notice of final rule making published in the Federal Register on June 30, 2003 at 65 FR 38611.
This revision was made to facilitate electronic image data capture and processing.
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