What should you do if a page of the specification is inadvertently missing from a filed application?

If a page of the specification is inadvertently missing from a filed application, it is appropriate to choose the option that allows for rectification of the defect while adhering to the rules established by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Filing a new complete application is one way to ensure that a complete specification is considered, but this may result in a loss of the original filing date unless it can be proven that the original application is still valid and that the error was minor.

Requesting that the missing page be added and the filing date moved back can also be a valid method, particularly if the error is acknowledged as a clerical mistake. When filing such a request, it's essential to provide sufficient evidence to convince the USPTO that the application was intended to be complete despite the omission.

Moreover, filing a petition with evidence of the deposit may also help to rectify the problem if the missing page could be demonstrated as crucial to the understanding and assessment of the application. Petitions serve as a formal request for administrative reconsideration under USPTO rules when applicants face issues concerning incomplete submissions.

Choosing the option that encompasses all of these potential actions ensures that the applicants have the flexibility to address the situation in multiple ways according to their specific circumstances, thereby maximizing the chances of