A: For drawings filed at the USPTO:
The process is as follows: A patent application is initially filed at the USPTO that contains drawings. Often, these drawings are objected to for some rule infraction and the USPTO requests that the drawings be corrected. Anytime drawings are filed in response to a patent office objection, the drawings should be labeled with the words “REPLACEMENT SHEET” centered at the top of the page, inside of the top margin.
For drawings filed at the PCT:
In 2013, we spoke to the PCT Help desk and was told that they prefer that the top of the page be left blank and that “Replacement Sheet” should not be there. However, if “Replacement Sheet” is at the top of the page, the drawings will not be objected to. They will just white it out.
Gallagher’s Patent Drafting rule:
For US drawings, put “Replacement Sheet” at the top of the page.
For PCT drawings, leave the top of the page blank.
For drawings to be file in the US and PCT, put “Replacement Sheet” at the top of the page.