Can a Certificate of Correction be used to add or remove an inventor from a patent?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
A Certificate of Correction can be used to add or remove an inventor from a patent, but only under specific circumstances and with proper documentation. According to MPEP 1481:
“Correction of inventorship in a patent may be requested under 37 CFR 1.324. See MPEP § 1412.04 for a discussion of the requirements of 37 CFR 1.324 for correction of inventorship in a patent.”
To correct inventorship, you must:
- File a request under 37 CFR 1.324
- Provide a statement from all current named inventors
- Provide a statement from all new inventors to be added
- Submit the required fee
It’s important to note that this process is different from correcting minor mistakes and requires more substantial documentation and review by the USPTO.