Office Action
Written response from the USPTO examiner explaining the reasons why a patent application is allowable.
An Office Action is a written response from the USPTO examiner when they reject or question your application. You must reply with arguments or claim amendments.
- Most applications face at least two Office Actions.
- Strong patents get through with minimal amendments.
- Lots of amendments mean your invention is too close to prior art, limiting your patent’s scope.
- Some examiners are stricter than others, so overcoming rejections may take time and expense.
This step is critical in determining whether your patent ends up strong or weak.
