MPEP 605

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605 Applicant[edit | edit source]

37 CFR 1.41. Applicant for patent.

(a)A patent is applied for in the name or names of the actual inventor or inventors.

(1) The inventorship of a nonprovisional application is that inventorship set forth in the oath or declaration as prescribed by § 1.63, except as provided for in §§ 1.53(d)(4) and 1.63(d). If an oath or declaration as prescribed by § 1.63 is not filed during the pendency of a nonprovisional application, the inventorship is that inventorship set forth in the application papers filed pursuant to § 1.53(b), unless applicant files a paper, including the processing fee set forth in § 1.17(i), supplying or changing the name or names of the inventor or inventors.
(2) The inventorship of a provisional application is that inventorship set forth in the cover sheet as prescribed by § 1.51(c)(1). If a cover sheet as prescribed by § 1.51(c)(1) is not filed during the pendency of a provisional application, the inventorship is that inventorship set forth in the application papers filed pursuant to § 1.53(c), unless applicant files a paper including the processing fee set forth in § 1.17(q), supplying or changing the name or names of the inventor or inventors.
(3) In a nonprovisional application filed without an oath or declaration as prescribed by § 1.63 or a provisional application filed without a cover sheet as prescribed by § 1.51(c)(1), the name, residence, and citizenship of each person believed to be an actual inventor should be provided when the application papers pursuant to § 1.53(b) or § 1.53(c) are filed.
(4) The inventorship of an international application entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371 is that inventorship set forth in the international application, which includes any change effected under PCT Rule 92bis. See § 1.497(d) and (f) for filing an oath or declaration naming an inventive entity different from the inventive entity named in the international application, or if a change to the inventive entity has been effected under PCT Rule 92bis subsequent to the execution of any declaration filed under PCT Rule 4.17(iv) (§ 1.48(f)(1) does not apply to an international application entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371).
(b) Unless the contrary is indicated the word “applicant” when used in these sections refers to the inventor or joint inventors who are applying for a patent, or to the person mentioned in §§ 1.42, 1.43 or 1.47 who is applying for a patent in place of the inventor.
(c) Any person authorized by the applicant may physically or electronically deliver an application for patent to the Office on behalf of the inventor or inventors, but an oath or declaration for the application (§ 1.63) can only be made in accordance with § 1.64.
(d) A showing may be required from the person filing the application that the filing was authorized where such authorization comes into question.


37 CFR 1.45. Joint inventors.

(a) Joint inventors must apply for a patent jointly and each must make the required oath or declaration; neither of them alone, nor less than the entire number, can apply for a patent for an invention invented by them jointly, except as provided in § 1.47.

(b) Inventors may apply for a patent jointly even though

(1) They did not physically work together or at the same time,
(2) Each inventor did not make the same type or amount of contribution, or
(3) Each inventor did not make a contribution to the subject matter of every claim of the application.

(c) If multiple inventors are named in a nonprovisional application, each named inventor must have made a contribution, individually or jointly, to the subject matter of at least one claim of the application and the application will be considered to be a joint application under 35 U.S.C. 116. If multiple inventors are named in a provisional application, each named inventor must have made a contribution, individually or jointly, to the subject matter disclosed in the provisional application and the provisional application will be considered to be a joint application under 35 U.S.C. 116.


37 CFR 1.41 and 37 CFR 1.53 were amended effective December 1, 1997, to remove the requirement that the name(s) of the inventor(s) be identified in the application papers in order to accord the application a filing date. 37 CFR 1.41(a)(1) now defines the inventorship of a nonprovisional application as that inventorship set forth in the oath or declaration filed to comply with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.63, except as provided for in 37 CFR 1.53(d)(4) and 37 CFR 1.63(d). The oath or declaration may be filed on the filing date of the application or on a later date. If an oath or declaration is not filed during the pendency of a nonprovisional application, the inventorship is that inventorship set forth in the application papers filed pursuant to 37 CFR 1.53(b), unless an applicant files a paper under 37 CFR 1.41(a)(1) accompanied by the processing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(i) supplying or changing the name or names of the inventor or inventors.

The name, residence, and citizenship of each person believed to be an actual inventor should be provided as an application identifier when application papers under 37 CFR 1.53(b) are filed without an oath or declaration, or application papers under 37 CFR 1.53(c) are filed without a cover sheet. See 37 CFR 1.41(a)(3). Naming the individuals known to be inventors or the persons believed to be the inventors may enable the Office to identify the application, if applicant does not know the application number. Where no inventor(s) is known and applicant cannot name a person believed to be an inventor on filing, the Office requests that an alphanumeric identifier be submitted for the application. The use of very short identifiers should be avoided to prevent confusion. Without supplying at least a unique identifying name the Office may have no ability or only a delayed ability to match any papers submitted after filing of the application and before issuance of an identifying application number with the application file. Any identifier used that is not an inventor’s name should be specific, alphanumeric characters of reasonable length, and should be presented in such a manner that it is clear to application processing personnel what the identifier is and where it is to be found. Failure to apprise the Office of an application identifier such as the names of the inventors or the alphanumeric identifier being used may result in applicants having to resubmit papers that could not be matched with the application and proof of the earlier receipt of such papers where submission was time dependent.

For correction of inventorship, see MPEP § 201.03.

This section concerns filing by the actual inventor. If the application is filed by another, see MPEP § 409.03.

For assignments of application by inventor, see MPEP § 301. For an inventor who is dead or insane, see MPEP § 409.

605.01 Applicant's Citizenship[edit | edit source]

The statute (35 U.S.C. 115) requires an applicant, in a nonprovisional application, to state his or her citizenship. Where an applicant is not a citizen of any country, a statement to this effect is accepted as satisfying the statutory requirement, but a statement as to citizenship applied for or first papers taken out looking to future citizenship in this (or any other) country does not meet the requirement.

605.02 Applicant’s Residence[edit | edit source]

Applicant's place of residence, that is, the city and either state or foreign country, is required to be included in the oath or declaration in a nonprovisional application for compliance with 37 CFR 1.63 unless it is included in an application data sheet (37 CFR 1.76). In the case of an applicant who is in one of the U.S. Armed Services, a statement to that effect is sufficient as to residence. For change of residence, see MPEP § 719.02(b). Applicant’s residence must be included on the cover sheet for a provisional application unless it is included in an application data sheet (37 CFR 1.76).

If the residence is not included in the executed oath or declaration filed under 37 CFR 1.63, the Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) will normally so indicate on a “Notice of Informal Application,” so as to require the submission of the residence information within a set period for reply. If the examiner notes that the residence has not been included in the oath or declaration or in an application data sheet, form paragraphs 6.05 (reproduced in MPEP § 605.01) and 6.05.02 should be used.

605.03 Applicant’s Mailing or Post Office Address[edit | edit source]

Each applicant’s mailing or post office address is required to be supplied on the oath or declaration, if not stated in an application data sheet. Applicant’s mailing address means that address at which he or she customarily receives his or her mail. Either applicant’s home or business address is acceptable as the mailing address. The mailing address should include the ZIP Code designation. Since the term “post office address” as previously used in 37 CFR 1.63 may be confusing, effective November 7, 2000, 37 CFR 1.63was amended to use the term “mailing address” instead.

The object of requiring each applicant’s mailing address is to enable the Office to communicate directly with the applicant if desired; hence, the address of the attorney with instruction to send communications to applicant in care of the attorney is not sufficient.

In situations where an inventor does not execute the oath or declaration and the inventor is not deceased, such as in an application filed under 37 CFR 1.47, the inventor’s most recent home address must be given to enable the Office to communicate directly with the inventor as necessary.

If an oath or declaration was filed prior to December 1, 1997 and the post office address was incomplete or omitted from the oath or declaration, “Notice of Informal Application” or form paragraph 6.09.01 may be used to notify applicant of the deficiency of the post office address.

Oaths or declarations filed on or after December 1, 1997 must include the mailing or post office address of each inventor. Effective November 7, 2000 the mailing address of each inventor may be provided in an application data sheet. See 37 CFR 1.63(c) and 37 CFR 1.76. In an application filed before November 29, 2000, the Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) will normally indicate the omission of an inventor’s mailing address on a “Notice of Informal Application,” requiring a new oath or declaration when the form is sent out with an Office action. For utility and plant applications filed on or after November 29, 2000, applicant’s mailing address may be needed for any patent application publication. If the mailing address of any inventor has been omitted, OIPE will notify applicant of the omission and require the omitted mailing address in response to the notice. If the examiner notes that the mailing or post office address has not been included in an oath or declaration filed on or after December 1, 1997, and the mailing address is not provided in an application data sheet, form paragraphs 6.05 (reproduced in MPEP § 605.01) and 6.05.19 may be used to notify applicant that the mailing or post office address has been omitted from the oath or declaration.

605.04(a) Applicant’s Signature and Name[edit | edit source]

37 CFR 1.64. Person making oath or declaration.

(a) The oath or declaration (§ 1.63), including any supplemental oath or declaration (§ 1.67), must be made by all of the actual inventors except as provided for in §§ 1.42, 1.43, 1.47, or § 1.67.

(b) If the person making the oath or declaration or any supplemental oath or declaration is not the inventor (§§ 1.42, 1.43, 1.47, or § 1.67), the oath or declaration shall state the relationship of the person to the inventor, and, upon information and belief, the facts which the inventor is required to state. If the person signing the oath or declaration is the legal representative of a deceased inventor, the oath or declaration shall also state that the person is a legal representative and the citizenship, residence, and mailing address of the legal representative.

I.EXECUTION OF OATHS OR DECLARATIONS OF PATENT APPLICATIONS[edit | edit source]

United States patent applications which have not been prepared and executed in accordance with the requirements of Title 35 of the United States Code and Title 37 of the Code of Federal Regulations may be abandoned. Although the statute and the rules have been in existence for many years, the Office continues to receive a number of applications which have been improperly executed and/or filed. Since the improper execution and/or filing of patent applications can ultimately result in a loss of rights, it is appropriate to emphasize the importance of proper execution and filing.

There is no requirement that a signature be made in any particular manner. See MPEP § 605.04(d). If applicant signs his or her name using non-English characters, then such a signature will be accepted.

Applications filed through the Electronic Filing System must also contain an oath or declaration personally signed by the inventor.

It is improper for an applicant to sign an oath or declaration which is not attached to or does not identify a specification and/or claims.

Attached does not necessarily mean that all the papers must be literally fastened. It is sufficient that the specification, including the claims, and the oath or declaration are physically located together at the time of execution. Physical connection is not required.

Copies of declarations are encouraged. See MPEP § 502.01, § 502.02, § 602, and § 602.05(a).

An oath or declaration under 37 CFR 1.63 by each actual inventor must be presented. While each inventor need not execute the same oath or declaration, each oath or declaration executed by an inventor must contain a complete listing of all inventors so as to clearly indicate what each inventor believes to be the appropriate inventive entity.

The provisions of 35 U.S.C. 363 for filing an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) which designates the United States and thereby has the effect of a regularly filed United States national application, except as provided in 35 U.S.C. 102(e), are somewhat different than the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 111. The oath or declaration requirements for an international application before the Patent and Trademark Office are set forth in 35 U.S.C. 371(c)(4) and 37 CFR 1.497.

37 CFR 1.52(c)(1) states that “[a]ny interlineation, erasure, cancellation or other alteration of the application papers filed must be made before the signing of any accompanying oath or declaration pursuant to § 1.63 referring to those application papers and should be dated and initialed or signed by the applicant on the same sheet of paper. Application papers containing alterations made after the signing of an oath or declaration referring to those application papers must be supported by a supplemental oath or declaration under § 1.67. In either situation, a substitute specification (§ 1.125) is required if the application papers do not comply with paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section.” 37 CFR 1.52(c)(2) states that after the signing of the oath or declaration referring to the application papers, amendments may only be made in the manner provided by 37 CFR 1.121. An application submitted through the electronic filing system (EFS) may include scanned images of a declaration executed by the inventor. The reformatting of an application in submitting the specification of the application using EFS, is not an “alteration of the application papers” requiring a substitute oath or declaration. It is acceptable to print out a copy of the specification prepared using traditional word processing software for the inventor to review as he or she signs the oath or declaration, and then cut and paste from the electronic document to prepare the EFS version of the specification and to submit a scanned copy of the declaration with the EFS submission.

In summary, it is emphasized that the application filed must be the application executed by the applicant and it is improper for anyone, including counsel, to alter, rewrite, or partly fill in any part of the application, including the oath or declaration, after execution of the oath or declaration by the applicant. This provision should particularly be brought to the attention of foreign applicants by their United States counsel since the United States law and practice in this area may differ from that in other countries.

Any changes made in ink in the application or oath prior to signing should be initialed and dated by the applicants prior to execution of the oath or declaration. The Office will not consider whether noninitialed and/or nondated alterations were made before or after signing of the oath or declaration but will require a new oath or declaration. Form paragraph 6.02.01 may be used to call noninitialed and/or nondated alterations to applicant’s attention.

The signing and execution by the applicant of oaths or declarations in certain continuation or divisional applications may be omitted. See MPEP § 201.06, § 201.07, and § 602.05(a).

For the signature on a reply, see MPEP § 714.01(a) to § 714.01(d).

II. EXECUTION OF OATH OR DECLARATION ON BEHALF OF INVENTOR[edit | edit source]

The oath or declaration required by 35 U.S.C. 115 must be signed by all of the actual inventors, except under limited circumstances. 35

U.S.C. 116 provides that joint inventors can sign on behalf of an inventor who cannot be reached or refuses to join. See MPEP § 409.03(a). 35 U.S.C. 117 provides that the legal representative of a deceased or incapacitated inventor can sign on behalf of the inventor. If a legal representative executes an oath or declaration on behalf of a deceased inventor, the legal representative must state that the person is a legal representative and provide the citizenship, residence, and mailing address of the legal representative. See 37 CFR 1.64, MPEP §.. 409.01 and § 409.02. 35 U.S.C. 118 provides that a party with proprietary interest in the invention claimed in an application can sign on behalf of the inventor, if the inventor cannot be reached or refuses to join in the filing of the application. See MPEP § 409.03(b) and § 409.03(f). The oath or declaration may not be signed by an attorney on behalf of the inventor, even if the attorney has been given a power of attorney to do so. Opinion of Hon. Edward Bates, 10 Op. Atty. Gen. 137 (1861). See also Staeger v. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, 189 USPQ 272 (D.D.C. 1976) and In re Striker, 182 USPQ 507 (PTO Solicitor 1973) (In each case, an oath or declaration signed by the attorney on behalf of the inventor was defective because the attorney did not have a proprietary interest in the invention.).

605.04(b) One Full Given Name Required[edit | edit source]

37 CFR 1.63(a)(2) requires that each inventor be identified by full name, including the family name, and at least one given name without abbreviation together with any other given name or initial in the oath or declaration. For example, if the applicant's full name is “John Paul Doe,” either “John P. Doe” or “J. Paul Doe” is acceptable.

A situation may arise where an inventor’s full given name is a singular letter, or is a plurality of singular letters. For example, an inventor’s full given name may be “J. Doe” or “J.P. Doe,” i.e., the “J” and the “P” are not initials. In such a situation, identifying the inventor by his or her family name and the singular letter(s) is acceptable, since that is the inventor’s full given name. In order to avoid an objection under 37 CFR1.63(a)(2), applicant should point out in the oath or declaration that the singular lettering set forth is the inventor’s given name. A statement to this effect, accompanying the filing of the oath or declaration, will also be acceptable. Without such a statement, the examiner should treat the singular letter(s) as an abbreviation of the inventor’s given name and should object to the oath or declaration using the appropriate form paragraphs. Applicant may overcome this objection by filing a responsive statement that the singular letter(s) is/are the inventor’s given name(s).

In an application where the name is typewritten with a middle name or initial, but the signature does not contain such middle name or initial, the typewritten version of the name will be used as the inventor’s name for the purposes of the application and any patent that may issue from the application. No objection should be made in this instance, since the inventor’s signature may differ from his or her legal name. Except for correction of a typographical or transliteration error in the spelling of an inventor’s name, a request to have the name changed from the typewritten version to the signed version or any other corrections in the name of the inventor(s) will not be entertained, unless accompanied by a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 together with an appropriate petition fee. Since amendments are not permitted after the payment of the issue fee (37 CFR 1.312), a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 to change the name of the inventor cannot be granted if filed after the payment of the issue fee. The petition should be directed to the attention of the Office of Petitions. Upon granting of the petition, if the application is maintained in paper, the left margin of the original oath or declaration should be marked in red ink “See paper No. ___ for correction of the inventor’s name,” and the application should be sent to the Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) for correction of its records, unless the application is an application with an application data sheet (e.g., an 09/ series application), in which case the Office of Petitions will correct the Office computer records and print a new bibliographic data sheet. If the application is assigned, it will be forwarded by OIPE or the Office of Petitions to the Assignment Division for a change in the assignment record.

When a typographical or transliteration error in the spelling of an inventor’s name is discovered during pendency of an application, a petition is not required, nor is a new oath or declaration under 37 CFR 1.63needed. However, applicants are strongly encouraged to use an application data sheet such that any patent to issue will reflect the correct spelling of the inventor’s name. Without an application data sheet with the corrected spelling, any patent to issue is less likely to reflect the correct spelling since the spelling of the inventor’s name is taken from the oath or declaration, or any subsequently filed application data sheet.

If the error is not detected until after the payment of the issue fee, because amendments are not permitted after the payment of the issue fee, either (A) the application must be withdrawn from issue under 37 CFR 1.313(c)(2) and a request to correct the spelling of the inventor’s name submitted with a request for continued examination (RCE) under 37 CFR 1.114, or (B) a certificate of correction must be filed after the patent issues requesting correction of the spelling of the inventor’s name.

When any correction or change is effected, the Office computer records must be changed. If the application is maintained in paper, the change should be noted on the original oath or declaration by writing in red ink in the left column “See Paper No. __ for inventorship changes.” See MPEP §§ 201.03 and 605.04(g). If the application is an Image File Wrapper (IFW) application, after the Office records are corrected, a new bib-data sheet must be printed and added to the IFW.

605.04(c) Inventor Changes Name[edit | edit source]

In cases where an inventor’s name has been changed after the application has been filed and the inventor desires to change his or her name on the application, he or she must submit a petition under 37 CFR 1.182. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to submit an application data sheet (37 CFR 1.76) showing the new name. The petition should be directed to the attention of the Office of Petitions. The petition must include an appropriate petition fee and a statement signed by the inventor setting forth both names and the procedure whereby the change of name was effected, or a copy of the court order.

Since amendments are not permitted after the payment of the issue fee (37 CFR 1.312), a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 to change the name of the inventor cannot be granted if filed after the payment of the issue fee.

If an application data sheet is not submitted, the petition may still be granted, but the patent may not reflect the correct spelling of the inventor’s name.

If the petition is granted, if the application is maintained in paper with a file jacket label (i.e., the application is an 08/ or earlier series application), the original declaration must be marked in red ink, in the left margin “See paper No. _ for correction of inventor name” and the application should be sent to the Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) for change of name on the file wrapper and in the PALM database. If the petition is granted in an Image File Wrapper (IFW) application or if the application is an 09/ or later series application, the spelling of the inventor’s name should be changed in the Office computer records and a new PALM bib-data sheet should be printed. If the application is assigned, applicant should submit a corrected assignment document along with a cover sheet and the recording fee as set forth in 37 CFR 1.21(h) to the Assignment Division for a change in the assignment record.

605.04(d) Applicant Unable to Write[edit | edit source]

If the applicant is unable to write, his or her mark as affixed to the oath or declaration must be attested to by a witness. In the case of the oath, the notary’s signature to the jurat is sufficient to authenticate the mark.

605.04(e) May Use Title With Signature[edit | edit source]

It is permissible for an applicant to use a title of nobility or other title, such as “Dr.”, in connection with his or her signature. The title will not appear in the printed patent.

605.04(f) Signature on Joint Applications - Order of Names[edit | edit source]

The order of names of joint patentees in the heading of the patent is taken from the order in which the typewritten names appear in the original oath or declaration. Care should therefore be exercised in selecting the preferred order of the typewritten names of the joint inventors, before filing, as requests for subsequent shifting of the names would entail changing numerous records in the Office. Since the particular order in which the names appear is of no consequence insofar as the legal rights of the joint applicants are concerned, no changes will be made except when a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 is granted. The petition should be directed to the attention of the Office of Petitions. The petition to change the order of names must be signed by either the attorney or agent of record or all the applicants. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application data sheet showing the new order of inventor names to ensure appropriate printing of the inventor names in any patent to issue. It is suggested that all typewritten and signed names appearing in the application papers should be in the same order as the typewritten names in the oath or declaration. When the Office of Petitions grants a petition to change the order of the names of the inventors, the Office of Petitions will change the order of the names in the Office computer records and print a new bib-data sheet, unless the application is an 08/ or earlier series application, in which case, the application should be sent to the Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) for correction on the file wrapper label and the PALM database. Since a change to the order of the inventor’s names is an amendment to the application and amendments are not permitted after the payment of the issue fee (37 CFR 1.312), a petition under 37 CFR 1.182 to change the order of the inventor’s name cannot be granted if filed after the payment of the issue fee.

In those instances where the joint applicants file separate oaths or declarations, the order of names is taken from the order in which the several oaths or declarations appear in the application papers unless a different order is requested at the time of filing.

605.04(g) Correction of Inventorship[edit | edit source]

When the request is granted to add or delete inventors under 37 CFR 1.48, the change should be noted in red ink in the left margin of the original oath or declaration , if the application is maintained in paper. The notation should read "See Paper No. ____ for inventorship changes." For Image File Wrapper (IFW) processing, see IFW Manual. The application (other than 09/ or later series applications) should be sent to the Office of Initial Patent Examination (OIPE) for correction on the file wrapper label and the PALM database regarding the inventorship. A brief explanation on an "Application Division Data Base Routing Slip" (available from the Technology Center (TC) technical support staff) should accompany the application file to OIPE. For 09/ or later series applications, the examiner should have the TC’s technical support staff enter the correction in the PALM database and print a new PALM bib-data sheet, which will then be placed in the file wrapper , if correction of the database and printing of a new PALM bib-data sheet was not already done by the Office of Petitions.

605.05 Administrator, Executor, or Other Legal Representative[edit | edit source]

In an application filed by a legal representative of the inventor, the specification should not be written in the first person.

For prosecution by administrator or executor, see MPEP § 409.01(a).

For prosecution by heirs, see MPEP § 409.01(a) and § 409.01(d).

For prosecution by representative of legally incapacitated inventor, see MPEP § 409.02.

For prosecution by other than inventor, see MPEP § 409.03.

605.07 Joint Inventors[edit | edit source]

35 U.S.C. 116. Inventors

When an invention is made by two or more persons jointly, they shall apply for patent jointly and each make the required oath, except as otherwise provided in this title. Inventors may apply for a patent jointly even though (1) they did not physically work together or at the same time, (2) each did not make the same type or amount of contribution, or (3) each did not make a contribution to the subject matter of every claim of the patent.

35 U.S.C. 116, as amended by Public Law 98-622, recognizes the realities of modern team research. A research project may include many inventions. Some inventions may have contributions made by individuals who are not involved in other, related inventions.

35 U.S.C. 116 allows inventors to apply for a patent jointly even though

(A)they did not physically work together or at the same time,

(B)each did not make the same type or amount of contribution, or

(C)each did not make a contribution to the subject matter of every claim of the patent.

Items (A) and (B) adopt the rationale stated in decisions such as Monsanto Co. v. Kamp, 269 F. Supp. 818, 824, 154 USPQ 259, 262 (D.D.C. 1967).

Item (C) adopts the rationale of cases such as SAB Industrie AB v. Bendix Corp., 199 USPQ 95 (E.D. Va. 1978).

With regard to item (A), see Kimberly-Clark Corp. v. Procter & Gamble Distributing Co., 973 F.2d 911, 916-17, 23 USPQ 2d 1921, 1925-26 (Fed. Cir. 1992) (some quantum of collaboration or connection is required in order for persons to be “joint” inventors under 35 U.S.C. 116, and thus individuals who are completely ignorant of what each other has done until years after their individual independent efforts cannot be considered joint inventors).

Like other patent applications, jointly filed applications are subject to the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 121 that an application be directed to only a single invention. If more than one invention is included in the application, the examiner may require the application to be restricted to one of the inventions. In such a case, a "divisional" application complying with 35 U.S.C. 120 would be entitled to the benefit of the earlier filing date of the original application.

It is possible that different claims of an application or patent may have different dates of inventions even though the patent covers only one independent and distinct invention within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. 121. When necessary, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or a court may inquire of the patent applicant or owner concerning the inventors and the invention dates for the subject matter of the various claims.

GUIDELINES

37 CFR 1.45. Joint inventors.

(b)Inventors may apply for a patent jointly even though

(1)They did not physically work together or at the same time,

(2)Each inventor did not make the same type or amount of contribution, or

(3)Each inventor did not make a contribution to the subject matter of every claim of the application.

(c)If multiple inventors are named in a nonprovisional application, each named inventor must have made a contribution, individually or jointly, to the subject matter of at least one claim of the application and the application will be considered to be a joint application under 35 U.S.C. 116. If multiple inventors are named in a provisional application, each named inventor must have made a contribution, individually or jointly, to the subject matter disclosed in the provisional application and the provisional application will be considered to be a joint application under 35 U.S.C. 116.

Since provisional applications may be filed without claims, 37 CFR 1.45(c) states that each inventor named in a joint provisional application must have made a contribution to the subject matter disclosed in the application.

The significant features resulting from the amendments to 35 U.S.C. 116 by Public Law 98-622 are the following:

(A)The joint inventors do not have to separately "sign the application," but only need apply for the patent jointly and make the required oath or declaration by signing the same; this is a clarification, but not a change in current practice.

(B)Inventors may apply for a patent jointly even though "they did not work together or at the same time," thereby clarifying (a) that it is not necessary that the inventors physically work together on a project, and (b) that one inventor may "take a step at one time, the other an approach at different times."

(C)Inventors may apply for a patent jointly even though "each did not make the same type or amount of contribution," thereby clarifying the "fact that each of the inventors play a different role and that the contribution of one may not be as great as that of another does not detract from the fact that the invention is joint, if each makes some original contribution, though partial, to the final solution of the problem."

(D)Inventors may apply for a patent jointly even though "each did not make a contribution to the subject matter of every claim of the patent."

(E)Inventors may apply for a patent jointly as long as each inventor made a contribution, i.e., was an inventor or joint inventor, of the subject matter of at least one claim of the patent; there is no requirement that all the inventors be joint inventors of the subject matter of any one claim.

(F)If an application by joint inventors includes more than one independent and distinct invention, restriction may be required with the possible result of a necessity to change the inventorship named in the application if the elected invention was not the invention of all the originally named inventors.

(G)The amendment to 35 U.S.C. 116 increases the likelihood that different claims of an application or patent may have different dates of invention; when necessary the Office or court may inquire of the patent applicant or owner concerning the inventors and the invention dates for the subject matter of the various claims.

Pending nonprovisional applications will be permitted to be amended by complying with 37 CFR 1.48to add claims to inventions by inventors not named when the application was filed as long as such inventions were disclosed in the application as filed since 37 CFR 1.48 permits correction of inventorship where the correct inventor or inventors are not named in an application for patent through error without any deceptive intention on the part of the person being added as an inventor. This is specially covered in 37 CFR 1.48(c).

Under 35 U.S.C. 116, an examiner may reject claims under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) only in circumstances where a named inventor is not the inventor of at least one claim in the application; no rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102(f) is appropriate if a named inventor made a contribution to the invention defined in any claim of the application.

Under 35 U.S.C. 116, considered in conjunction with 35 U.S.C. 103(c), a rejection may be appropriate under 35 U.S.C. 102(f)/103 where the subject matter, i.e., prior art, and the claimed invention were not owned by, or subject to an obligation of assignment to, the same person at the time the invention was made.

Applicants are responsible for correcting, and are required to correct, the inventorship in compliance with 37 CFR 1.48 when the application is amended to change the claims so that one (or more) of the named inventors is no longer an inventor of the subject matter of a claim remaining in the application.

In requiring restriction in an application filed by joint inventors, the examiner should remind applicants of the necessity to correct the inventorship pursuant to 37 CFR 1.48 if an invention is elected and the claims to the invention of one or more inventors are canceled.

If an application is filed with joint inventors, the examiner should assume that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned at the time the inventions covered therein were made, unless there is evidence to the contrary. If inventors of subject matter, not commonly owned at the time of the later invention, file a joint application, applicants have an obligation pursuant to 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and invention dates of each claim and the lack of common ownership at the time the later invention was made in order that the examiner may consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(e)/103, 35 U.S.C. 102(f)/103 or 35 U.S.C. 102(g)/103. The examiner should assume, unless there is evidence to the contrary, that applicants are complying with their duty of disclosure. It should be pointed out that 35 U.S.C. 119(a) benefit may be claimed to any foreign application as long as the U.S. named inventor was the inventor of the foreign application invention and 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) requirements are met. Where two or more foreign applications are combined in a single U.S. application, to take advantage of the changes to 35 U.S.C. 103 or 35 U.S.C. 116, the U.S. application may claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to each of the foreign applications provided all the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) are met. One of the conditions for benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) is that the foreign application must be for “the same invention” as the application in the United States. Therefore, a claim in the U.S. application which relies on the combination of prior foreign applications may not be entitled to the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) if the subject matter of the claim is not sufficiently disclosed in the prior foreign application. Cf. Studiengesellschaft Kohle m.b.H. v. Shell Oil Co., 112 F.3d 1561, 42 USPQ2d 1674 (Fed. Cir. 1997). For example:

If foreign applicant A invents X and files a foreign application; foreign applicant B invents Y and files separate foreign application. A+B combine inventions X+Y and A and B are proper joint inventors under 35 U.S.C. 116 and file U.S. application to X+Y. The U.S. application may claim benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to each of the for eign applications provided the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) are met.