Do joint inventors need to contribute to every claim in a patent?
No, joint inventors do not need to contribute to every claim in a patent. The MPEP clearly states:
“A joint inventor or coinventor need not make a contribution to every claim of a patent; a contribution to one claim is enough.”
Furthermore, the MPEP explains that “there is no requirement that all the inventors be joint inventors of the subject matter of any one claim.”
This means that different inventors can contribute to different claims within the same patent application. It’s important to note that contributing to even a single claim is sufficient for joint inventorship status.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 2100 - Patentability,
MPEP 2109.01 - Joint Inventorship,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure