Are preliminary amendments limited to correcting formal errors?

Preliminary amendments are not limited solely to correcting formal errors; they can be used for a broader range of purposes. These amendments allow applicants to optimize their patent applications and can include substantive changes, such as adding claims, modifying specifications, and addressing issues raised during the examination process. This flexibility allows applicants to refine their applications in response to feedback or to clarify their invention's scope.

While preliminary amendments can indeed be used to correct formal errors, their primary advantage lies in the ability to improve the overall quality of the application before the patent is granted. This means applicants can respond strategically to examination findings or adjust their claims and descriptions to better align with the patentability requirements, increasing the chances of securing patent rights.

Thus, the correct understanding of preliminary amendments is that they serve a broader purpose than merely correcting formal errors, allowing applicants to make more substantial adjustments to enhance their cases.