MPEP § 602.08 — Inventor and Application Information (Annotated Rules)

§602.08 Inventor and Application Information

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2026-01-17

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 602.08, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Inventor and Application Information

This section addresses Inventor and Application Information. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.64. Contains: 2 requirements.

Key Rules

Topic

AIA Effective Dates

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-602-08-5e9c37bd1185b1fccd6e6343]
Inventors Must Execute Oath or Declaration for Non-Provisional Patents
Note:
Inventors must sign an oath or declaration in a non-provisional patent application, with specific requirements depending on the filing date.

The inventor, or each individual who is a joint inventor of a claimed invention, in an application for patent (other than a provisional application) must execute an oath or declaration directed to the application, except as provided for in 37 CFR 1.64. See MPEP § 602.01(a) for the requirements of an inventor’s oath or declaration in an application filed on or after September 16, 2012. See MPEP § 602.01(b) for the requirements of an original oath or declaration in an application filed before September 16, 2012.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.64AIA Effective DatesDetermining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIAAIA Overview and Effective Dates
Topic

Inventor Signature Requirements

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-602-08-235b567702f1bccc6fd5aee1]
Inventor’s Oath or Declaration Requirement
Note:
The inventor’s oath or declaration must include specific bibliographic information, name the inventor(s), and be signed by each inventor. It also must identify the application to which it is directed.

The inventor’s oath or declaration must include certain inventor bibliographic information (see MPEP § 602.08(a)), name the inventor or each joint inventor and except as otherwise provided be signed by each inventor (see MPEP § 602.08(b)), and identify the application to which it is directed (see MPEP § 602.08(c)).

Jump to MPEP SourceInventor Signature RequirementsSignature Requirements

Citations

Primary topicCitation
AIA Effective Dates37 CFR § 1.64
AIA Effective DatesMPEP § 602.01(a)
AIA Effective DatesMPEP § 602.01(b)
Inventor Signature RequirementsMPEP § 602.08(a)
Inventor Signature RequirementsMPEP § 602.08(b)
Inventor Signature RequirementsMPEP § 602.08(c)

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2026-01-17