[fros1y]

“Final” rejections are poorly named. All they really indicate is that you will probably have to submit a request for continued examination—-and pay a hefty fee—-to continue. Ironically, a lengthy and contentious application process can make the patent more difficult to challenge later, in a more sophisticated setting, because the presumption that the patent is valid is the strongest with prior art that the examiner “considered.” (IAALBNYL)