Can an inventor’s name be changed on a patent due to a legal name change?
No, an inventor’s name cannot be changed on a patent due to a legal name change after the patent has issued. MPEP 1481.02 clearly states:
“Where an inventor changes their name, including a legal name change, after the patent issues, a certificate of correction cannot be filed to effect the name change in the patent. An inventor name change after a patent issues is neither a ‘mistake of a clerical or typographical nature, or of minor character’ in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 255, nor a mistake that ‘is clearly disclosed by the records of the Office’ in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 254.“
The patent will continue to display the inventor’s name as it was at the time of patent issuance.
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