office action

See Action.

An official written communication from an examiner in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office giving the position of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on a pending patent application. After receiving an adverse office action, the applicant must respond within the set time limits.

(First) The Patent Examiner's conclusion about the patentability of an invention (Second) The Patent Examiner's second conclusion to an applicant's appeal.

a letter from a trademark examining attorney setting forth the legal status of a trademark application. There are several types of Office actions: examiner's amendments, priority actions, non-final Office actions, final Office actions, and suspension inquiry letters.