What is the significance of the notice of allowance?

The notice of allowance is a critical stage in the patent examination process, signifying that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has determined that the claims of a patent application are allowable, subject to the payment of required issue fees. This means that the examiner has found that the claims meet all necessary legal requirements for patentability, including novelty, non-obviousness, and utility.

Receiving a notice of allowance is a positive outcome for an applicant, as it indicates that the application has successfully passed the examination phase and is one step closer to receiving a patent, provided that the necessary fees are paid. This notice does not result in the immediate issuance of a patent; the applicant must still fulfill the administrative requirement of paying the issue fee. Thus, the significance of the notice of allowance lies in its affirmation that the claims are considered sufficiently novel and inventive to warrant patent protection, pending the completion of final administrative steps.