As on May 2006, the first office action, also called the First Examination Report (FER), is normally issued within six months of the date of the request for examination.
Office Action is a notification to the patent applicant. It points out some or all patent claims that contain issues. It is an official mode of communication between the patent examiner and the patent filer that clearly state areas of improvement, mistakes, or rejection, in the patent application.
Hence, timely communication is key on both the patent office and the patent applicant’s part. The office must issue the FER on time and the applicant must respond to it in time.
Related FAQs:
Can I access the documents in the file of an Indian patent application?
What is the time limit for responding to office actions in India?
Is there a grace period for paying annual patent fees in India?
Also, do make sure that you check out this free e-book: A Quick Guide to Patents. Basically, it deals with basics of patent procedures.
A Quick Guide to Patents
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