What should patent examiners immediately review when receiving an applicant’s action?
Patent examiners should immediately review actions by applicants, especially those filed near the end of the reply period. According to MPEP 714.05, examiners should:
- Determine if the action is completely responsive to the preceding Office action
- Prevent abandonment of the application
- Notify the applicant of any deficiencies if sufficient time remains
The MPEP states: “Actions by applicant, especially those filed near the end of the period for reply, should be reviewed as soon as possible upon becoming available to the examiner to determine whether they are completely responsive to the preceding Office action so as to prevent abandonment of the application.”
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