Do claims in a reissue application have a presumption of validity?

Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based)BlueIron Update: 2024-09-27

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.

No, claims in a reissue application do not have a presumption of validity. The MPEP 1445 explicitly states:

“Claims in a reissue application enjoy no ‘presumption of validity.’”

This principle is supported by case law, including:

  • In re Doyle, 482 F.2d 1385, 1392, 179 USPQ 227, 232-233 (CCPA 1973)
  • In re Sneed, 710 F.2d 1544, 1550 n.4, 218 USPQ 385, 389 n.4 (Fed. Cir. 1983)

This means that during the examination of a reissue application, all claims are subject to full scrutiny and potential rejection, regardless of their status in the original patent.

Tags: patent claims, patent law, presumption of validity, reissue application