How can the applicant actively modify the patent application documents? Is there a time limit?

There is a time limit for the applicant to actively modify the patent application documents. The applicant for a patent for invention may, within 3 months from the date of receiving the notice that the application for a patent for invention has entered the substantive examination stage issued by the China National Intellectual Property Administration Patent Office, take the initiative to propose amendments to the application for a patent for invention. An applicant for a patent for utility model or design may, within 2 months from the date of application, put forward amendments to the application for a patent for utility model or design.

Requirements for active revision: The revision of the application documents for patents for inventions and utility models shall not exceed the scope recorded in the original specifications and claims, and the revision of the application documents for patents for designs shall not exceed the scope shown in the original pictures or photographs.

Procedures for active revision: In addition to supplementary documents in the prescribed format, the revised part of the specification or claims of an application for a patent for invention or utility model shall be submitted with replacement pages in the prescribed format, except for individual text modification or addition or deletion. Where a picture or photograph of an application for a patent for design is modified, a replacement page shall be submitted in accordance with the provisions.