human: Can an amendment after final that was not in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121 be a proper submission for a RCE that was filed with a fee?
assistant: If an amendment after final (with a date of certificate of mailing on or after 3/1/01) is a bona fide reply meeting the reply requirement under 37 CFR 1.111, but is non-compliant with § 1.121, the amendment after final could be considered as a proper submission for a RCE under 37 CFR 1.114. The Office will process the RCE as a proper RCE and withdraw the finality of the last Office action. Applicant will be given one-month (or 30 days, if longer) from the mailing date of the Notice of Non-Compliant Amendment (37 CFR 1.121) to correct the non-compliance in order to avoid abandonment. This period of time is extendable under 37 CFR 1.136(a).