What might happen if a response to an office action is incomplete?

When a response to an office action is incomplete, the most likely consequence is that the application may be abandoned. An office action is a document issued by the USPTO that outlines issues with a trademark application that need to be addressed. If a trademark applicant fails to provide a complete response to these issues, such as missing information or necessary documentation, the application is not fully rectified.

As a result, the application may face abandonment because the USPTO can consider it as unresponsive or insufficiently addressed. This means that the applicant may lose their opportunity to secure the trademark if they do not properly respond within the designated timeframe.

In contrast, the other outcomes described—expediting the application, granting the application, or automatically approving it—are unlikely in the case of an incomplete response. These options generally require that the application meets all regulatory standards and responds thoroughly to the concerns raised in the office action.