Is exact wording required for anticipation?

Exact wording, or “ipsissimis verbis,” is not required for anticipation. The MPEP 2131 clarifies:

The elements must be arranged as required by the claim, but this is not an ipsissimis verbis test, i.e., identity of terminology is not required. (In re Bond)

This means that while the prior art must disclose all elements of the claimed invention, it doesn’t need to use the exact same words as the claim. What matters is that the substance of the claimed elements is present in the prior art, regardless of the specific terminology used.

To learn more:

• anticipation
• ipsissimis verbis
• claim language
• prior art