MPEP § 1411.01 — Certificate of Correction or Disclaimer in Original Patent (Annotated Rules)

§1411.01 Certificate of Correction or Disclaimer in Original Patent

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 1411.01, 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.

Certificate of Correction or Disclaimer in Original Patent

This section addresses Certificate of Correction or Disclaimer in Original Patent. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.321(a), 37 CFR 1.183, and 37 CFR 1.125(d). Contains: 3 requirements and 2 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Types of Claim Status in Reissue

2 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-1411-01-0462e0cfdc1166f9f725d59b]
Certificate of Correction Must Not Use Underlining or Brackets
Note:
The certificate of correction and disclaimer of claim(s) should be made without underlining or brackets to appear as part of the original patent in the printed reissue document.

Certificate of correction changes and disclaimer of claim(s) under 37 CFR 1.321(a) should be made without using underlining or brackets. Because these are retroactively a part of the original patent and are made before the reissue application will issue as a patent, they must show up in the printed reissue patent document as part of the original patent, i.e., not in italics or bracketed. If the changes are submitted improperly with underlining and brackets, the examiner will require correction by the applicant in the form of a replacement paragraph (or paragraphs) without such markings. If the changes are extensive, a clean copy of the specification with the certificate of correction changes in it may be required by the examiner after consulting with their supervisor. For the clean copy of the specification to be entered as a substitute specification, the reissue applicant must file a grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.183 for waiver of 37 CFR 1.125(d) and 37 CFR 1.173(a)(1). The examiner’s requirement for the clean copy will generally serve as sufficient basis for granting the petition.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.321(a)Types of Claim Status in ReissueClaim Status Identifiers in ReissueChanges Relative to Patent
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1411-01-70a4d6b05601fdccc20c6942]
Clean Copy Must Be Filed for Waiver Petition
Note:
The examiner’s requirement for a clean copy of the specification with certificate of correction changes is generally sufficient to grant a waiver petition under 37 CFR 1.183.

Certificate of correction changes and disclaimer of claim(s) under 37 CFR 1.321(a) should be made without using underlining or brackets. Because these are retroactively a part of the original patent and are made before the reissue application will issue as a patent, they must show up in the printed reissue patent document as part of the original patent, i.e., not in italics or bracketed. If the changes are submitted improperly with underlining and brackets, the examiner will require correction by the applicant in the form of a replacement paragraph (or paragraphs) without such markings. If the changes are extensive, a clean copy of the specification with the certificate of correction changes in it may be required by the examiner after consulting with their supervisor. For the clean copy of the specification to be entered as a substitute specification, the reissue applicant must file a grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.183 for waiver of 37 CFR 1.125(d) and 37 CFR 1.173(a)(1). The examiner’s requirement for the clean copy will generally serve as sufficient basis for granting the petition.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.321(a)Types of Claim Status in ReissueExamples of WaiversClaim Status Identifiers in Reissue
Topic

Column and Line References

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-1411-01-15f11753ff1996070d7091cd]
Specification Changes Must Be Clean
Note:
Changes to the specification must be submitted without underlining or brackets; otherwise, the examiner will require a clean copy of the specification for correction.

Certificate of correction changes and disclaimer of claim(s) under 37 CFR 1.321(a) should be made without using underlining or brackets. Because these are retroactively a part of the original patent and are made before the reissue application will issue as a patent, they must show up in the printed reissue patent document as part of the original patent, i.e., not in italics or bracketed. If the changes are submitted improperly with underlining and brackets, the examiner will require correction by the applicant in the form of a replacement paragraph (or paragraphs) without such markings. If the changes are extensive, a clean copy of the specification with the certificate of correction changes in it may be required by the examiner after consulting with their supervisor. For the clean copy of the specification to be entered as a substitute specification, the reissue applicant must file a grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.183 for waiver of 37 CFR 1.125(d) and 37 CFR 1.173(a)(1). The examiner’s requirement for the clean copy will generally serve as sufficient basis for granting the petition.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.321(a)Column and Line ReferencesReissue Amendment FormatSpecification Amendments
Topic

Specification Amendments

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-1411-01-226d6e3ff447d3789b6c1559]
Clean Copy Needed for Extensive Changes
Note:
If extensive changes are made, a clean copy of the specification with certificate corrections must be submitted after consulting with an examiner's supervisor.

Certificate of correction changes and disclaimer of claim(s) under 37 CFR 1.321(a) should be made without using underlining or brackets. Because these are retroactively a part of the original patent and are made before the reissue application will issue as a patent, they must show up in the printed reissue patent document as part of the original patent, i.e., not in italics or bracketed. If the changes are submitted improperly with underlining and brackets, the examiner will require correction by the applicant in the form of a replacement paragraph (or paragraphs) without such markings. If the changes are extensive, a clean copy of the specification with the certificate of correction changes in it may be required by the examiner after consulting with their supervisor. For the clean copy of the specification to be entered as a substitute specification, the reissue applicant must file a grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.183 for waiver of 37 CFR 1.125(d) and 37 CFR 1.173(a)(1). The examiner’s requirement for the clean copy will generally serve as sufficient basis for granting the petition.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.321(a)Specification AmendmentsReissue Filing RequirementsTypes of Claim Status in Reissue
Topic

Examples of Waivers

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-1411-01-e7b665dab45237543a6252ad]
Petition for Waiver Required for Clean Copy Specification
Note:
Reissue applicants must file a grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.183 to enter a clean copy of the specification as a substitute specification.

Certificate of correction changes and disclaimer of claim(s) under 37 CFR 1.321(a) should be made without using underlining or brackets. Because these are retroactively a part of the original patent and are made before the reissue application will issue as a patent, they must show up in the printed reissue patent document as part of the original patent, i.e., not in italics or bracketed. If the changes are submitted improperly with underlining and brackets, the examiner will require correction by the applicant in the form of a replacement paragraph (or paragraphs) without such markings. If the changes are extensive, a clean copy of the specification with the certificate of correction changes in it may be required by the examiner after consulting with their supervisor. For the clean copy of the specification to be entered as a substitute specification, the reissue applicant must file a grantable petition under 37 CFR 1.183 for waiver of 37 CFR 1.125(d) and 37 CFR 1.173(a)(1). The examiner’s requirement for the clean copy will generally serve as sufficient basis for granting the petition.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.321(a)Examples of WaiversPetition to Suspend/Waive Rules (37 CFR 1.183)Specification Amendments
Topic

Changes Relative to Patent

1 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1411-01-79bb027a8e82b93ccdc1736d]
Reissue Application Must Include All Certificate of Correction Changes
Note:
The reissue application must include all changes, additions, or deletions made by a certificate of correction to the original patent grant without underlining or bracketing.

The applicant should include any changes, additions, or deletions that were made by a certificate of correction to the original patent grant in the reissue application without underlining or bracketing. This includes changes made by a certification of correction dated before the filing of the reissue application or dated during the pendency of the reissue application. The examiner should make certain that all certificate of correction changes in the patent have been properly incorporated into the reissue application.

Jump to MPEP SourceChanges Relative to PatentReissue Amendment FormatPatent Grant and Document Format
Topic

Reissue Patent Practice

1 rules
MPEP GuidanceRecommendedAlways
[mpep-1411-01-373d6d950eceb528c83b0ab9]
All Certificate of Correction Changes Must Be Included in Reissue Application
Note:
The examiner should ensure that all changes from certificate of corrections are properly incorporated into the reissue application without underlining or bracketing.

The applicant should include any changes, additions, or deletions that were made by a certificate of correction to the original patent grant in the reissue application without underlining or bracketing. This includes changes made by a certification of correction dated before the filing of the reissue application or dated during the pendency of the reissue application. The examiner should make certain that all certificate of correction changes in the patent have been properly incorporated into the reissue application.

Jump to MPEP SourceReissue Patent PracticeChanges Relative to PatentReissue Amendment Format

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Column and Line References
Examples of Waivers
Specification Amendments
Types of Claim Status in Reissue
37 CFR § 1.125(d)
Column and Line References
Examples of Waivers
Specification Amendments
Types of Claim Status in Reissue
37 CFR § 1.173(a)(1)
Column and Line References
Examples of Waivers
Specification Amendments
Types of Claim Status in Reissue
37 CFR § 1.183
Column and Line References
Examples of Waivers
Specification Amendments
Types of Claim Status in Reissue
37 CFR § 1.321(a)

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