Notice of Allowance (NOA) is an official notification from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that the examiner has approved a patent application for grant. However, it is important to understand that receiving an NOA does not guarantee an error free patent will be granted. This is where the Notice of Allowance Review comes into play. A review of the NOA is essential as it allows the applicant to address any deficiencies or changes required before the patent grant, preventing future legal disputes or infringement issues. Furthermore, the NOA review process ensures that the final patent meets the legal and technical requirements set forth by the USPTO.
This article discusses the Notice of Allowance review, the difference between Notice of Allowance review and post-grant review, and much more. But first, let us understand NOA and its role in the patent application/grant process.
Overview of Notice of Allowance
NOA or Notice of Allowance is a document issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to an applicant after the examiner has decided to grant the requested patent. The issuance of an NOA indicates the conclusion of the examiner’s review and suggests that a grant number will be assigned soon.
The NOA has three sections, the first of which is the header containing information about the patent case number, the inventor, and the invention. The second section mentions the fee owed to the government to complete the patent process and the due date for the same. This section must be completed and returned to the USPTO within a certain time frame. The third section specifies the due date for the fees and any other paperwork requested based on the patent’s filing date. Read more