Once the application for patent is examined, the Patent office generally issues an examination report to the applicant. Such examination report is known as First Examination Report (FER).
The applicant is given six months period (extendable to three months) from the date of issuance of the FER to comply with the objections raised in the FER. If the applicant is not able to meet the requirement within 9 months, or does not submit the documents which were sent to him for compliance within the said period, the application is deemed to have been abandoned.
If the application is found to be in order for grant, the patent is granted and the letters patent is issued to the applicant. However, if an applicant’s patent application has some objections sustained, they are given a chance to be heard and present written submissions within 15 days of the hearing. This opportunity allows them to address the objections and potentially amend the application before it’s finalized.
However, if a pre-grant opposition is filed or pending, further action is taken after disposition of the pre-grant opposition.
