ABSTRACT
ThegrantofapatentbytheU.S.PatentandTrademarkOfficedoesnot endthepatentowner'sefforttosecuretheexclusiverighttotheclaimed inventionduringthepatentterm.Underrulesestablishedintheearly 1980s,maintenancefeesmustbepaidperiodicallytokeepthepatentin force.Moreover,otherpost-issuanceproceduresareavailabletothepatent ownertocorrectdefectsinthepatent.Ifthereisaprintingerror,for example,thepatentownermaycorrecttheerrorbyfilingaCertificateof CorrectionwhichisthenattachedtotheoriginalLettersPatentandall furtherpatentcopies,onceithasbeenapproved.
