How should professional titles be handled in inventor names on patent applications?

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.

Professional titles should not be included in inventor names on patent applications. The MPEP 602.08(b) is clear on this point:

Prefixes to names (e.g., “Dr.”) generally should not be included.

This means that titles such as ‘Dr.’, ‘Prof.’, ‘Eng.’, or any other professional designation should be omitted from the inventor’s name on the patent application. The focus should be on the inventor’s legal name without any additional titles or honorifics.

For example, if an inventor’s name with title is ‘Dr. Jane Doe’, it should be listed simply as ‘Jane Doe’ on the patent application.