MPEP § 1302.02 — Requirement for a Rewritten Specification (Annotated Rules)

§1302.02 Requirement for a Rewritten Specification

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1302.02, 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.

Requirement for a Rewritten Specification

This section addresses Requirement for a Rewritten Specification. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.125. Contains: 1 requirement, 2 guidance statements, and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Patent Application Content

4 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1302-02-0da5fcad8c1be66142867fa8]
Requirement for Rewritten Specification When Interlineations or Cancellations Cause Confusion
Note:
The examiner must require rewriting the affected portion of the specification if interlineations or cancellations cause confusion and mistake before issuing the application.

Whenever interlineations or cancellations have been made in the specification or amendments which would lead to confusion and mistake, the examiner should require the entire portion of specification affected to be rewritten before passing the application to issue. See 37 CFR 1.125 and MPEP § 608.01(q).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.125Patent Application Content
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-1302-02-f6a1cdf4149fc1e5487555b8]
Specification Must Describe Invention Completely
Note:
The specification must be rewritten to fully describe the invention as required.

1. Specific discussion of the sections of the specification or claims required to be rewritten must be set forth.

37 CFR 1.77Patent Application Content
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1302-02-c20a7af72259367ef3796703]
Requirement for Rewritten Specification
Note:
Use form paragraph 13.01 when making such a requirement for rewriting the specification.

Form paragraph 13.01 should be used when making such a requirement.

Jump to MPEP SourcePatent Application Content
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-1302-02-93a47b43b766490d27289992]
Requirement for Substitute Specification
Note:
The rule requires using form paragraph 6.28.01 as a substitute specification.

2. See form paragraph 6.28.01 for a substitute specification.

MPEP § 1302.02Patent Application Content

Examiner Form Paragraphs

Examiner form paragraphs are standard language that you might see in an Office Action or communication from the USPTO. Examiners have latitude to change the form paragraphs, but you will often see this exact language.

¶ 13.01 ¶ 13.01 Requirement for Rewritten Specification

The interlineations or cancellations made in the specification or amendments to the claims could lead to confusion and mistake during the issue and printing processes. Accordingly, the portion of the specification or claims as identified below is required to be rewritten before passing the case to issue. See 37 CFR 1.125 and MPEP § 608.01(q) .

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Patent Application Content37 CFR § 1.125
Patent Application ContentMPEP § 608.01(q)
Patent Application ContentForm Paragraph § 13.01
Patent Application ContentForm Paragraph § 6.28.01

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