MPEP § 2152.03 — Admissions (Annotated Rules)

§2152.03 Admissions

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2026-01-10

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2152.03, 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.

Admissions

This section addresses Admissions. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 100 and 35 U.S.C. 102. Contains: 1 permission and 4 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Assignee as Applicant Signature

4 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2152-03-1ba03d8f081c584f6576c783]
Admissions by Applicant Are Prior Art
Note:
The Office will consider admissions made by the applicant in the specification or during prosecution as prior art for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of their qualification under AIA.

The Office will continue to treat admissions by the applicant as prior art under the AIA. A statement by an applicant in the specification or made during prosecution identifying the work of another as “prior art” is an admission which can be relied upon for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of whether the admitted prior art would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102. See Riverwood Int'l Corp. v. R.A. Jones & Co., 324 F.3d 1346, 1354, 66 USPQ2d 1331, 1337 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Constant v. Advanced Micro-Devices Inc., 848 F.2d 1560, 1570, 7 USPQ2d 1057, 1063 (Fed. Cir. 1988). For a discussion of admissions as prior art, see generally MPEP § 2129.

Jump to MPEP SourceAssignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIAAIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2152-03-ff0054be0e753d1aa278b8b3]
Admissions by Applicant Are Considered Prior Art
Note:
An applicant's statement identifying another's work as prior art is considered an admission and can be used for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of its actual status under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102.

The Office will continue to treat admissions by the applicant as prior art under the AIA. A statement by an applicant in the specification or made during prosecution identifying the work of another as “prior art” is an admission which can be relied upon for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of whether the admitted prior art would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102. See Riverwood Int'l Corp. v. R.A. Jones & Co., 324 F.3d 1346, 1354, 66 USPQ2d 1331, 1337 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Constant v. Advanced Micro-Devices Inc., 848 F.2d 1560, 1570, 7 USPQ2d 1057, 1063 (Fed. Cir. 1988). For a discussion of admissions as prior art, see generally MPEP § 2129.

Jump to MPEP SourceAssignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIAAIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2152-03-36997c880fa53e3ea6a42bc9]
Admission of Prior Art by Applicant
Note:
The Office can use an applicant's statement identifying another work as prior art for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of AIA qualifications.

The Office will continue to treat admissions by the applicant as prior art under the AIA. A statement by an applicant in the specification or made during prosecution identifying the work of another as “prior art” is an admission which can be relied upon for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of whether the admitted prior art would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102. See Riverwood Int'l Corp. v. R.A. Jones & Co., 324 F.3d 1346, 1354, 66 USPQ2d 1331, 1337 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Constant v. Advanced Micro-Devices Inc., 848 F.2d 1560, 1570, 7 USPQ2d 1057, 1063 (Fed. Cir. 1988). For a discussion of admissions as prior art, see generally MPEP § 2129.

Jump to MPEP SourceAssignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIAAIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2152-03-52fe3e3588168c23e433e217]
Admissions Are Considered Prior Art
Note:
The Office treats an applicant's admission of prior art in the specification or during prosecution as valid for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of AIA qualifications.

The Office will continue to treat admissions by the applicant as prior art under the AIA. A statement by an applicant in the specification or made during prosecution identifying the work of another as “prior art” is an admission which can be relied upon for both anticipation and obviousness determinations, regardless of whether the admitted prior art would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102. See Riverwood Int'l Corp. v. R.A. Jones & Co., 324 F.3d 1346, 1354, 66 USPQ2d 1331, 1337 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Constant v. Advanced Micro-Devices Inc., 848 F.2d 1560, 1570, 7 USPQ2d 1057, 1063 (Fed. Cir. 1988). For a discussion of admissions as prior art, see generally MPEP § 2129.

Jump to MPEP SourceAssignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIAAIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Topic

Statutory Authority for Examination

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2152-03-663cf8421e94d820f30fa866]
First Inventor to File FITF Provisions
Note:
This rule applies to applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA, as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 100 (note).

[Editor Note: This MPEP section is only applicable to applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file (FITF) provisions of the AIA as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 100 (note). See MPEP § 2159 et seq. to determine whether an application is subject to examination under the FITF provisions, and MPEP § 2131MPEP § 2138 for examination of applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102.]

Jump to MPEP SourceStatutory Authority for ExaminationExamination ProceduresFirst Inventor to File (FITF) System

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Statutory Authority for Examination35 U.S.C. § 100
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Statutory Authority for Examination
35 U.S.C. § 102
Assignee as Applicant SignatureMPEP § 2129
Statutory Authority for ExaminationMPEP § 2131
Statutory Authority for ExaminationMPEP § 2138
Statutory Authority for ExaminationMPEP § 2159
Assignee as Applicant SignatureConstant v. Advanced Micro-Devices Inc., 848 F.2d 1560, 1570, 7 USPQ2d 1057, 1063 (Fed. Cir. 1988)

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: 2026-01-10