2.1 Amendments made in response to the search opinion 

The amendments referred to in C‑II, 3.1 are made by the applicant of their own volition (the applicant is required to respond to the search opinion in the EESR but does not necessarily have to respond by filing amendments; they can also respond by filing observations on the search opinion – see B‑XI, 8). This means that the applicant is not restricted to amendments necessary to remedy a defect in the application. Further amendments may be made only with the consent of the examining division (see H‑II, 2.3).