What might an examiner do if amendments are submitted that do not improve patentability?

When an examiner evaluates submitted amendments and finds that they do not enhance the patentability of the claims, the appropriate course of action is to object to the amendments. This means that the examiner does not see sufficient merit in the changes to allow them to stand as they currently are. An objection could lead to the cancellation or rejection of those amendments because they fail to overcome prior art or address previously raised issues regarding patentability.

This aligns with the role of the examiner, which involves ensuring that any changes made to the patent application contribute positively to its chances of being granted. Simply accepting amendments without scrutiny could compromise the quality and integrity of the patent examination process.

While there might be other interactions between the examiner and the applicant, such as requesting further information or holding meetings, these typically occur in different contexts or may not apply if the amendments are inherently unhelpful. Therefore, the examiner’s primary action in this scenario would be to formally object to the amendments.