BEFORE FIRST ACTION

before first action,adv. Patents. After the filing of a patent application but before the mailing of any office action by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office examiner. • For example, an applicant typically files an information disclosure statement before first action, and often files preliminary amendments as well. [Cases: Patents  104. C.J.S. Patents §§ 145–147, 149–151, 173–175.][Blacks Law 8th]