Legal Definitions - final rejection

Definition: A final rejection is a refusal to accept a contractual offer or tendered goods as contractual performance. In patent law, it refers to a patent examiner's finding that a claim in an application is unpatentable on the merits.

Example: In the context of contracts, if a seller offers goods to a buyer and the buyer rejects them, the seller may make a counteroffer. If the buyer then rejects the counteroffer, it may be considered a final rejection. In patent law, a final rejection may be made in the final office action, and it means that the claim is unpatentable on the merits.

Explanation: A final rejection is a final decision that cannot be appealed or changed. In contracts, it means that the offer has been definitively rejected and cannot be accepted. In patent law, it means that the claim is unpatentable and cannot be granted a patent.