If the issue fee is paid late unintentionally, what is the outcome?

When the issue fee is paid late but unintentionally, the result is that the fee can still be accepted without penalties, allowing the patent application to proceed to issuance. The USPTO recognizes that occasional delays may occur, and as long as the applicant can demonstrate the late payment was unintentional, the office has provisions to accommodate this situation.

This acceptance of the late fee means that the application does not face denial, and there are no financial repercussions such as a fee refund or a loss of patent rights due to the timing of the payment. The patent term adjustment remains on track, as the delay does not affect the term of the patent itself. Hence, the outcome allows for the continuation of the patent process despite the late fee payment, reflecting the USPTO's understanding of inadvertent errors in managing filings and fees.