What is the purpose of interviews prior to first Office action in patent applications?
Interviews prior to the first Office action in patent applications serve several important purposes:
- To discuss and clarify the invention and claims
- To identify and resolve potential issues early in the examination process
- To expedite prosecution by addressing concerns before formal Office actions
- To establish a better understanding between the examiner and the applicant
As stated in MPEP 713.02: ‘Interviews that are solely for the purpose of sounding out the examiner … should not be permitted.’ This emphasizes that interviews should have a substantive purpose related to advancing prosecution.
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