MPEP § 2159.04 — Applicant Statement in Transition Applications Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date on or After March 16, 2013 (Annotated Rules)

§2159.04 Applicant Statement in Transition Applications Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date on or After March 16, 2013

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2159.04, 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.

Applicant Statement in Transition Applications Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date on or After March 16, 2013

This section addresses Applicant Statement in Transition Applications Containing a Claimed Invention Having an Effective Filing Date on or After March 16, 2013. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 102, 37 CFR 1.55, and 37 CFR 1.78. Contains: 2 requirements.

Key Rules

Topic

Benefit Claim in Specification

2 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2159-04-cf5a1cb62ad1a62b0dff78f7]
Requirement for Transition Application Claiming Invention with Effective Filing Date on or After March 16, 2013
Note:
Applicants must provide a statement in nonprovisional applications filed on or after March 16, 2013, that claim the benefit of an earlier application with an effective filing date before March 16, 2013, if the later application contains an invention with an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013.

The Office revised 37 CFR 1.55 and 1.78 to require that if a nonprovisional application filed on or after March 16, 2013, claims the benefit of or priority to an application where the filing date of a foreign, U.S. provisional, U.S. nonprovisional, or international application is prior to March 16, 2013 (termed as “a transition application”), and also contains or contained at any time a claimed invention having an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013, the applicant must provide a statement to that effect (“the 37 CFR 1.55 or 1.78 statement”). This information will assist the Office in determining whether the transition application is subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103. However, applicant is not required to provide this information if the transition application claims the benefit of an earlier transition application in which a 37 CFR 1.55 or 37 CFR 1.78 statement has been filed. See 37 CFR 1.78(c)(6)(i). See also MPEP § 210.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.55Benefit Claim in SpecificationContinuation Benefit ClaimsAIA Effective Dates
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2159-04-9cf35b97fd4b484892493a79]
Requirement for Transition Application Statement
Note:
Applicant must provide a statement if the transition application contains an invention with an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013.

The Office revised 37 CFR 1.55 and 1.78 to require that if a nonprovisional application filed on or after March 16, 2013, claims the benefit of or priority to an application where the filing date of a foreign, U.S. provisional, U.S. nonprovisional, or international application is prior to March 16, 2013 (termed as “a transition application”), and also contains or contained at any time a claimed invention having an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013, the applicant must provide a statement to that effect (“the 37 CFR 1.55 or 1.78 statement”). This information will assist the Office in determining whether the transition application is subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103. However, applicant is not required to provide this information if the transition application claims the benefit of an earlier transition application in which a 37 CFR 1.55 or 37 CFR 1.78 statement has been filed. See 37 CFR 1.78(c)(6)(i). See also MPEP § 210.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.55Benefit Claim in SpecificationContinuation Benefit ClaimsDetermining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIA

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Benefit Claim in Specification35 U.S.C. § 102
Benefit Claim in Specification37 CFR § 1.55
Benefit Claim in Specification37 CFR § 1.78
Benefit Claim in Specification37 CFR § 1.78(c)(6)(i)
Benefit Claim in SpecificationMPEP § 210

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: 2025-12-31