MPEP § 214 — Formal Requirements of Claim for Foreign Priority (Annotated Rules)
§214 Formal Requirements of Claim for Foreign Priority
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 214, 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.
Formal Requirements of Claim for Foreign Priority
This section addresses Formal Requirements of Claim for Foreign Priority. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 119(b)), 35 U.S.C. 119(b), and 35 U.S.C. 119(a). Contains: 2 requirements, 2 prohibitions, 2 permissions, and 2 other statements.
Key Rules
Ordering Certified Copies
It should be particularly noted that the certified copy must be filed in all cases even though it may not be necessary during the pendency of the application to overcome the date of any reference. The statute also gives the Director authority to require a translation of the foreign documents if not in the English language and such other information as the Director may deem necessary. See MPEP § 213.04 for additional information. If an English language translation of a non-English language foreign application is required, the translation must be that of the certified copy (of the foreign application as filed) and it must be filed together with a statement that the translation of the certified copy is accurate.
It should be particularly noted that the certified copy must be filed in all cases even though it may not be necessary during the pendency of the application to overcome the date of any reference. The statute also gives the Director authority to require a translation of the foreign documents if not in the English language and such other information as the Director may deem necessary. See MPEP § 213.04 for additional information. If an English language translation of a non-English language foreign application is required, the translation must be that of the certified copy (of the foreign application as filed) and it must be filed together with a statement that the translation of the certified copy is accurate.
It should be particularly noted that the certified copy must be filed in all cases even though it may not be necessary during the pendency of the application to overcome the date of any reference. The statute also gives the Director authority to require a translation of the foreign documents if not in the English language and such other information as the Director may deem necessary. See MPEP § 213.04 for additional information. If an English language translation of a non-English language foreign application is required, the translation must be that of the certified copy (of the foreign application as filed) and it must be filed together with a statement that the translation of the certified copy is accurate.
Right of Priority (Paris Convention)
Under the statute (35 U.S.C. 119(b)), an applicant who wishes to secure the right of priority must comply with certain formal requirements within a time specified. If these requirements are not complied with the right of priority is lost and cannot thereafter be asserted.
Under the statute (35 U.S.C. 119(b)), an applicant who wishes to secure the right of priority must comply with certain formal requirements within a time specified. If these requirements are not complied with the right of priority is lost and cannot thereafter be asserted.
Design Claim Form
The maximum time limit specified in the statute is that the claim for priority and the priority papers must be filed before the patent is granted, but the statute gives the Director authority to set this time limit at an earlier time during the pendency of the application. As a result of implementation of Public Law 112-211, 126 Stat. 1527 (titles I and title II of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act (PLTIA)), the procedural requirements relating to claims for priority to an earlier-filed foreign application and to the submission of a certified copy of the priority document were revised. The procedural requirements and the time relating to claims for priority of an earlier filed foreign application are set forth in 37 CFR 1.55. See MPEP § 214.01 for procedural requirements pertaining to filing a claim for priority. See MPEP §§ 215.02 – 215.03 for timing requirements for submitting a certified copy of the priority application. See MPEP § 213.06 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a national stage application and MPEP § 213.07 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a nonprovisional international design application.
The maximum time limit specified in the statute is that the claim for priority and the priority papers must be filed before the patent is granted, but the statute gives the Director authority to set this time limit at an earlier time during the pendency of the application. As a result of implementation of Public Law 112-211, 126 Stat. 1527 (titles I and title II of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act (PLTIA)), the procedural requirements relating to claims for priority to an earlier-filed foreign application and to the submission of a certified copy of the priority document were revised. The procedural requirements and the time relating to claims for priority of an earlier filed foreign application are set forth in 37 CFR 1.55. See MPEP § 214.01 for procedural requirements pertaining to filing a claim for priority. See MPEP §§ 215.02 – 215.03 for timing requirements for submitting a certified copy of the priority application. See MPEP § 213.06 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a national stage application and MPEP § 213.07 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a nonprovisional international design application.
Foreign Priority Claims
Where a claim for priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(b) has not been made in a parent application, the claim for priority may be made in a continuing application provided the parent application has been filed within twelve months from the date of the earliest foreign filing (six months for design applications). See In re Tangsrud, 184 USPQ 746 (Comm’r Pat. 1973). Where the requirements for perfecting priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) – (d) or (f) have not been met before the issuance of patent, see 37 CFR 1.55(g) and MPEP § 216.01 for an explanation of when the deficiencies are correctable by a certificate of correction or reissue.
Where a claim for priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(b) has not been made in a parent application, the claim for priority may be made in a continuing application provided the parent application has been filed within twelve months from the date of the earliest foreign filing (six months for design applications). See In re Tangsrud, 184 USPQ 746 (Comm’r Pat. 1973). Where the requirements for perfecting priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) – (d) or (f) have not been met before the issuance of patent, see 37 CFR 1.55(g) and MPEP § 216.01 for an explanation of when the deficiencies are correctable by a certificate of correction or reissue.
Title Format Requirements
The maximum time limit specified in the statute is that the claim for priority and the priority papers must be filed before the patent is granted, but the statute gives the Director authority to set this time limit at an earlier time during the pendency of the application. As a result of implementation of Public Law 112-211, 126 Stat. 1527 (titles I and title II of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act (PLTIA)), the procedural requirements relating to claims for priority to an earlier-filed foreign application and to the submission of a certified copy of the priority document were revised. The procedural requirements and the time relating to claims for priority of an earlier filed foreign application are set forth in 37 CFR 1.55. See MPEP § 214.01 for procedural requirements pertaining to filing a claim for priority. See MPEP §§ 215.02 – 215.03 for timing requirements for submitting a certified copy of the priority application. See MPEP § 213.06 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a national stage application and MPEP § 213.07 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a nonprovisional international design application.
Foreign Priority Claim Requirements
Where a claim for priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(b) has not been made in a parent application, the claim for priority may be made in a continuing application provided the parent application has been filed within twelve months from the date of the earliest foreign filing (six months for design applications). See In re Tangsrud, 184 USPQ 746 (Comm’r Pat. 1973). Where the requirements for perfecting priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a) – (d) or (f) have not been met before the issuance of patent, see 37 CFR 1.55(g) and MPEP § 216.01 for an explanation of when the deficiencies are correctable by a certificate of correction or reissue.
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| Foreign Priority Claim Requirements Foreign Priority Claims | 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) |
| Foreign Priority Claim Requirements Foreign Priority Claims Right of Priority (Paris Convention) | 35 U.S.C. § 119(b) |
| Design Claim Form Title Format Requirements | 37 CFR § 1.55 |
| Foreign Priority Claim Requirements Foreign Priority Claims | 37 CFR § 1.55(g) |
| Ordering Certified Copies | MPEP § 213.04 |
| Design Claim Form Title Format Requirements | MPEP § 213.06 |
| Design Claim Form Title Format Requirements | MPEP § 213.07 |
| Design Claim Form Title Format Requirements | MPEP § 214.01 |
| Design Claim Form Title Format Requirements | MPEP § 215.02 |
| Foreign Priority Claim Requirements Foreign Priority Claims | MPEP § 216.01 |
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.
Official MPEP § 214 — Formal Requirements of Claim for Foreign Priority
Source: USPTO214 Formal Requirements of Claim for Foreign Priority [R-07.2022]
Under the statute (35 U.S.C. 119(b)), an applicant who wishes to secure the right of priority must comply with certain formal requirements within a time specified. If these requirements are not complied with the right of priority is lost and cannot thereafter be asserted.
The maximum time limit specified in the statute is that the claim for priority and the priority papers must be filed before the patent is granted, but the statute gives the Director authority to set this time limit at an earlier time during the pendency of the application. As a result of implementation of Public Law 112-211, 126 Stat. 1527 (titles I and title II of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act (PLTIA)), the procedural requirements relating to claims for priority to an earlier-filed foreign application and to the submission of a certified copy of the priority document were revised. The procedural requirements and the time relating to claims for priority of an earlier filed foreign application are set forth in 37 CFR 1.55. See MPEP § 214.01 for procedural requirements pertaining to filing a claim for priority. See MPEP §§ 215.02–215.03 for timing requirements for submitting a certified copy of the priority application. See MPEP § 213.06 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a national stage application and MPEP § 213.07 for claiming foreign priority and filing a certified copy of the priority document in a nonprovisional international design application.
Where a claim for priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(b) has not been made in a parent application, the claim for priority may be made in a continuing application provided the parent application has been filed within twelve months from the date of the earliest foreign filing (six months for design applications). See In re Tangsrud, 184 USPQ 746 (Comm’r Pat. 1973). Where the requirements for perfecting priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)–(d) or (f) have not been met before the issuance of patent, see 37 CFR 1.55(g) and MPEP § 216.01 for an explanation of when the deficiencies are correctable by a certificate of correction or reissue.
It should be particularly noted that the certified copy must be filed in all cases even though it may not be necessary during the pendency of the application to overcome the date of any reference. The statute also gives the Director authority to require a translation of the foreign documents if not in the English language and such other information as the Director may deem necessary. See MPEP § 213.04 for additional information. If an English language translation of a non-English language foreign application is required, the translation must be that of the certified copy (of the foreign application as filed) and it must be filed together with a statement that the translation of the certified copy is accurate.