MPEP § 409.03(h) — Processing and Acceptance of a Pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 Application (Annotated Rules)

§409.03(h) Processing and Acceptance of a Pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 Application

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 409.03(h), 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.

Processing and Acceptance of a Pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 Application

This section addresses Processing and Acceptance of a Pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 Application. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.47, 37 CFR 1.53(b), and 37 CFR 1.63(d)(3)(i). Contains: 1 permission and 5 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice

4 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-4a55456cd846c4d16589d4f7]
Filing Date for Pre-AIA Deposit Applications
Note:
A filing date is assigned to an application deposited under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 if the requirements of 37 CFR 1.53(b) are met.

A filing date is assigned to an application deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 provided the requirements of 37 CFR 1.53(b) are met. A filing receipt will be sent to the applicant and the application, or an electronic message concerning the petition under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, will be forwarded to the Office of Petitions, for consideration of the petition filed under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47AIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeAssignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIA
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-0911e6e1266b7cb3a8b7d6a8]
Office of Petitions Must Enter Decision on Acceptable Pre-AIA Deposited Papers
Note:
When papers deposited under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are found acceptable, the Office of Petitions must enter a decision to that effect in the file.

When papers deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are found acceptable, the Office of Petitions enters a decision to that effect in the file. A notice will be published in the Official Gazette identifying the application number, filing date, the title of the invention and the name(s) of the nonsigning inventor(s). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will notify the nonsigning inventor(s) or, if the inventor is deceased, the legal representative(s), of the filing of an application under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 by sending a letter to the last known address of the nonsigning inventor(s) or legal representative(s). In a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) of an application accorded status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, if a copy of a declaration from a prior application and a copy of a decision according status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are filed as permitted by pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.63(d)(3)(i), the notice will not be repeated. See pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47(c). In addition, the notice is not repeated in continued prosecution applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47AIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeAIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)Pre-AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-b84733eab08ff50f2e54ec89]
Nonsigning Inventor Notification Required
Note:
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office must notify nonsigning inventors or their legal representatives of the filing of an application under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 by sending a letter to their last known address.

When papers deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are found acceptable, the Office of Petitions enters a decision to that effect in the file. A notice will be published in the Official Gazette identifying the application number, filing date, the title of the invention and the name(s) of the nonsigning inventor(s). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will notify the nonsigning inventor(s) or, if the inventor is deceased, the legal representative(s), of the filing of an application under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 by sending a letter to the last known address of the nonsigning inventor(s) or legal representative(s). In a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) of an application accorded status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, if a copy of a declaration from a prior application and a copy of a decision according status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are filed as permitted by pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.63(d)(3)(i), the notice will not be repeated. See pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47(c). In addition, the notice is not repeated in continued prosecution applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47AIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeAIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)Pre-AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-680c8d8e62232a7998151fb1]
Notice Requirement for Nonsigning Inventors
Note:
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office must notify nonsigning inventors or their legal representatives of the filing of a pre-AIA application.

When papers deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are found acceptable, the Office of Petitions enters a decision to that effect in the file. A notice will be published in the Official Gazette identifying the application number, filing date, the title of the invention and the name(s) of the nonsigning inventor(s). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will notify the nonsigning inventor(s) or, if the inventor is deceased, the legal representative(s), of the filing of an application under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 by sending a letter to the last known address of the nonsigning inventor(s) or legal representative(s). In a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) of an application accorded status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, if a copy of a declaration from a prior application and a copy of a decision according status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are filed as permitted by pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.63(d)(3)(i), the notice will not be repeated. See pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47(c). In addition, the notice is not repeated in continued prosecution applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47AIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeAIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)Pre-AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements
Topic

AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)

3 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-d327ec1545e5374c414801af]
Notice Requirement for Nonsigning Inventors
Note:
A notice identifying the application details and nonsigning inventors must be published in the Official Gazette.

When papers deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are found acceptable, the Office of Petitions enters a decision to that effect in the file. A notice will be published in the Official Gazette identifying the application number, filing date, the title of the invention and the name(s) of the nonsigning inventor(s). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will notify the nonsigning inventor(s) or, if the inventor is deceased, the legal representative(s), of the filing of an application under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 by sending a letter to the last known address of the nonsigning inventor(s) or legal representative(s). In a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) of an application accorded status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, if a copy of a declaration from a prior application and a copy of a decision according status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are filed as permitted by pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.63(d)(3)(i), the notice will not be repeated. See pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47(c). In addition, the notice is not repeated in continued prosecution applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)Pre-AIA Oath/Declaration RequirementsInventor's Oath/Declaration Requirements
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-1548f8aa7da50e7f58713958]
Continuation/Divisional Application Declaration and Status Copy Requirement
Note:
In a continuation or divisional application, filing a copy of the declaration from a prior application and a decision granting pre-AIA status under 37 CFR 1.47 prevents repeating the notice in the Official Gazette.

When papers deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are found acceptable, the Office of Petitions enters a decision to that effect in the file. A notice will be published in the Official Gazette identifying the application number, filing date, the title of the invention and the name(s) of the nonsigning inventor(s). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will notify the nonsigning inventor(s) or, if the inventor is deceased, the legal representative(s), of the filing of an application under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 by sending a letter to the last known address of the nonsigning inventor(s) or legal representative(s). In a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) of an application accorded status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, if a copy of a declaration from a prior application and a copy of a decision according status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are filed as permitted by pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.63(d)(3)(i), the notice will not be repeated. See pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47(c). In addition, the notice is not repeated in continued prosecution applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)Pre-AIA Oath/Declaration RequirementsInventor's Oath/Declaration Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-e8860fd23fbcb8d164ccd3c3]
Notice Not Repeated in Continued Prosecution Applications
Note:
In continued prosecution applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d), the notice identifying the application details is not repeated.

When papers deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are found acceptable, the Office of Petitions enters a decision to that effect in the file. A notice will be published in the Official Gazette identifying the application number, filing date, the title of the invention and the name(s) of the nonsigning inventor(s). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office will notify the nonsigning inventor(s) or, if the inventor is deceased, the legal representative(s), of the filing of an application under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 by sending a letter to the last known address of the nonsigning inventor(s) or legal representative(s). In a continuation or divisional application filed under 37 CFR 1.53(b) of an application accorded status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, if a copy of a declaration from a prior application and a copy of a decision according status under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 are filed as permitted by pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.63(d)(3)(i), the notice will not be repeated. See pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47(c). In addition, the notice is not repeated in continued prosecution applications filed under 37 CFR 1.53(d).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)Pre-AIA Oath/Declaration RequirementsInventor's Oath/Declaration Requirements
Topic

Assignee as Applicant Signature

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-409-03-h-7de981b049d4219d5db6941e]
Filing Receipt for Pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 Application
Note:
A filing receipt will be sent to the applicant and forwarded to the Office of Petitions for consideration of an application filed under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47.

A filing date is assigned to an application deposited pursuant to pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47 provided the requirements of 37 CFR 1.53(b) are met. A filing receipt will be sent to the applicant and the application, or an electronic message concerning the petition under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47, will be forwarded to the Office of Petitions, for consideration of the petition filed under pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.47.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.47Assignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIAAIA vs Pre-AIA Practice

Citations

Primary topicCitation
AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Assignee as Applicant Signature
37 CFR § 1.47
AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
37 CFR § 1.47(c)
AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Assignee as Applicant Signature
37 CFR § 1.53(b)
AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
37 CFR § 1.53(d)
AIA Oath/Declaration Requirements (37 CFR 1.63)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
37 CFR § 1.63(d)(3)(i)

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