When should an interview be granted during patent examination?

An interview should be granted when it can contribute to the progress of the patent application. According to MPEP 713: “An interview should be granted when the nature of the case is such that the interview serves to develop or clarify outstanding issues in an application.”

This means interviews are particularly useful when they can:

• Help develop or clarify issues in the application
• Advance the prosecution of the application
• Identify patentable subject matter

To learn more:

• Patent interviews
• Patent examination
• USPTO procedure