If you plan to apply for patents of any kind, you are going to need to understand what office actions are. Many of these require a response from you and you often have limited time to respond, so knowing exactly what kinds of actions to expect can be beneficial. A knowledgeable California multitool patent lawyer from our firm can help you with this.
What Are Office Actions?
Office actions are formal communications from the United States Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO. They are written statements that often require a response from the applicant. The usual window for responding is around six months, but sometimes deadlines can be tighter. It’s important to review office actions right away and determine the next steps because you will not get the chance to ask for an extension.
These office actions usually address some part or multiple parts of your patent application. If the examiner has some kind of issue with your proposed patent, then they might ask for additional information or tell you why they believe that your patent application should not move forward.
How Can I Respond to Office Actions?
Once you receive any office actions, you must closely read them over and determine exactly what an examiner objects to. You must respond to every single issue that they bring up. You cannot just pick and choose what you will respond to.
Most applicants have the option to respond to these office actions by mail, fax, or by visiting the Alexandria office for the USPTO in person. If you are registered as an eFiler, you can respond through the online Patent Center. No matter how you choose to respond, you should take action quickly.
What Happens If I Ignore Office Actions?
When examiners submit office actions, they aren’t trying to be annoying or accusing you of wrongdoing. They have an issue with your application and they just want your side of the story or additional information that can help them make an informed decision.
Ignoring these actions will likely result in your patent application being rejected. Take the time to review the correspondence from the USPTO and have a lawyer help you respond. It’s worth it if you have a valuable invention to patent.
What is a Final Action?
If your responses to the patent examiner are not convincing, a final office action may be issued. This essentially tells you that the examiner does not want to continue working on your application. This does not have to be the end of the line though!
A lawyer can walk you through your options here. You may be able to submit a Request for Continued Examination or file an appeal. Your lawyer can tell you which option is best suited to your current situation.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
Once you have decided that you want to learn more about how a patent attorney can help you, contact our law firm. At Burns Patent Law, we are happy to help clients who have valuable intellectual property to protect.
