Legal Definitions - nonresponsive

Definition: Nonresponsive is an adjective that describes a reply to a question, especially from a witness under oath, that does not directly answer the question asked. It can also refer to a patent applicant's answer that does not address every rejection, objection, and requirement contained in a patent examiner's office action, which may cause the application to be abandoned.

Examples:

• The witness was asked if they saw the suspect at the scene of the crime, but their nonresponsive answer only talked about the weather that day.
• The patent examiner sent an office action with several rejections and objections, but the applicant's nonresponsive reply only addressed a few of them.

These examples illustrate how a nonresponsive answer fails to directly address the question or issue at hand, which can be frustrating for those seeking information or resolution.