Simple English definitions for legal terms
Read a random definition: ante mortem statement
An amendment after payment of issue fee is a change made to a patent application after it has been approved and the fee has been paid. This change is not guaranteed and must be accompanied by a petition explaining why it was not presented earlier. Amendments can include narrowing or eliminating some claims in response to an examiner's rejection or addressing matters such as changes to the specification or claims, drawings, or submission of prior art. However, amendments that raise new issues for the examiner or add new claims may not be allowed.
An amendment after payment of issue fee refers to a modification made to a patent application after it has been allowed and the issue fee has been paid. This amendment is not a matter of right and must be accompanied by a petition to the Commissioner showing good and sufficient reasons why the amendment was not presented earlier.
For example, an applicant may want to narrow or eliminate some claims in response to an examiner's rejection. In this case, the applicant can submit an amendment after payment of issue fee to address the examiner's concerns and improve the chances of getting the patent approved.
Another example is when an applicant wants to make changes to the specification or claims, change the drawings or the list of inventors, or submit prior art after the notice of allowance has been mailed. In this case, the applicant can submit an amendment after payment of issue fee to address these matters.
Overall, an amendment after payment of issue fee is a way for applicants to improve their patent application after it has been allowed and the issue fee has been paid. However, it is not a guaranteed right and must be accompanied by a petition showing good and sufficient reasons for the amendment.
amendment after final action | amendment before first action