What two responses can you give to a rejection issued by the PTO?

The two responses that can be given to a rejection issued by the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) are appeal and petition. When an applicant receives a rejection, they have the option to appeal the decision to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) if they believe the rejection is unjustified. This process allows them to seek a reversal of the examiner's decision based on the merits of their application and the applicable laws.

Alternatively, if the applicant wishes to address specific issues raised by the examiner and attempt to resolve them informally, they can file a petition. A petition may address procedural matters or seek reinstatement of an application under certain circumstances. This route allows the applicant to request a reconsideration of the rejection without formally appealing the case.

The appeal process is a formal channel to contest a rejection, particularly when there is disagreement with the examination of the application. Filing a petition serves as a means to navigate through procedural hurdles or to request specific actions from the PTO. Both options are integral to the patent prosecution process, providing applicants avenues to challenge or respond to rejections they encounter during examination.