What is the requirement for submitting an IDS after the final Office action?

The correct answer highlights that an Information Disclosure Statement (IDS) must be submitted before the payment of the issue fee following a final Office action. This is significant because while a final Office action typically leads to the conclusion of prosecution, the applicant can still submit an IDS to bring additional pertinent information to the examiner’s attention. However, this submission must occur before the issue fee is paid; once the issue fee has been paid, the application is considered ready for issuance and the opportunity to present new information is lost.

The requirement ensures that all relevant information is fully considered by the patent examiner prior to the final issuance of the patent. It's designed to uphold the integrity of the patent system by ensuring that all relevant prior art or information has been disclosed, thereby allowing a thorough examination of the patent's claims.

The other choices suggest incorrect scenarios regarding the timing and conditions under which an IDS can be submitted after a final action.