What types of communications might be received after a patent is granted?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
While MPEP 508.02 doesn’t specify the types of communications that might be received after a patent is granted, it does indicate that some communications may still be relevant to the record. The section states:
“After an application is patented or abandoned, any incoming communication which is not to become part of the record will be returned to the sender.”
This implies that certain communications might still become part of the record. These could include:
- Maintenance fee payments
- Requests for correction of errors in the patent
- Reissue applications
- Supplemental examination requests
However, any communication not related to these or other official post-grant procedures would likely be returned.