MPEP 713: Examiner Interviews

Answer in brief

MPEP 713 governs interviews between applicants and examiners. Interviews are encouraged to advance prosecution, but the substance of every interview must be made of record (713.04), and interviews to "sound out" an examiner without a real application issue are not permitted (713.03).

What MPEP 713 covers

An interview is often the fastest way to resolve a rejection.

General policy and how interviews are conducted (713.01).
Interviews before the first action (713.02).
Substance must be recorded by the examiner and the applicant (713.04).
Interviews after final rejection and before appeal (713.09).

How examiners use it

The examiner completes an interview summary; the applicant's reply must also state the substance of the interview.

On the patent bar

Know the record requirement and when interviews are not granted.

Read the full text

Official title: Interviews [R-07.2022].

Read MPEP 713 in full on Wysebridge ↗

Or at the source: USPTO MPEP § 713.

Sources for this entry

USPTO — MPEP § 713 USPTO
Official text of this section, Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024.
Wysebridge MPEP Center Wysebridge (publisher of this site)
The full MPEP (9th Ed., Rev. 01.2024) free to read, with Wysebridge's estimated patent bar weight for each chapter.

Practical guidance is original editorial content. Company-published figures are the company's own claims and are labeled as such.

Continue this reading path

MPEP 714: Amendments MPEP 706: Rejection of Claims

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Cite or share this entry

MPEP.net. “MPEP 713: Examiner Interviews.” Wysebridge Reference. Content reviewed 9 November 2026.
https://mpep.net/mpep-713/