MPEP § 2153.01 — Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) To AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Grace Period Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception) (Annotated Rules)

§2153.01 Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) To AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Grace Period Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception)

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2153.01, 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.

Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) To AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Grace Period Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception)

This section addresses Prior Art Exception Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) To AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) (Grace Period Inventor-Originated Disclosure Exception). Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 100, 35 U.S.C. 102, and 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A). Contains: 5 statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Grace Period – Own Disclosure (102(b)(1)(A))

2 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2153-01-c2b89f42db115e32ecb0e583]
Inventor-Originated Disclosure Within One Year Not Prior Art
Note:
This rule states that an inventor's own work publicly disclosed within one year before the effective filing date is not considered prior art.

AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides exceptions to the prior art provisions of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). These exceptions limit the use of an inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work as prior art, when the inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work has been publicly disclosed by the inventor, a joint inventor, or another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor not more than one year before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure which would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) is not prior art if the disclosure was made: (1) One year or less before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; and (2) by the inventor or a joint inventor, or by another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor. MPEP § 2153.01(a) discusses issues pertaining to inventor-originated disclosures within the grace period. MPEP § 2152.01 discusses the “effective filing date” of a claimed invention.

Jump to MPEP SourceGrace Period – Own Disclosure (102(b)(1)(A))Determining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIAAIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2153-01-fafd573f92122f5d50122bd5]
Inventor-Disclosed Work Not Prior Art Within One Year
Note:
This rule states that an inventor's own disclosure of their work is not considered prior art if it was made within one year before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.

AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides exceptions to the prior art provisions of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). These exceptions limit the use of an inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work as prior art, when the inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work has been publicly disclosed by the inventor, a joint inventor, or another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor not more than one year before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure which would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) is not prior art if the disclosure was made: (1) One year or less before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; and (2) by the inventor or a joint inventor, or by another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor. MPEP § 2153.01(a) discusses issues pertaining to inventor-originated disclosures within the grace period. MPEP § 2152.01 discusses the “effective filing date” of a claimed invention.

Jump to MPEP SourceGrace Period – Own Disclosure (102(b)(1)(A))Determining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIAAIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)
Topic

Statutory Authority for Examination

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2153-01-3aad2c16bca2195c5ac1859a]
First Inventor to File Examination 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 ProceduresNovelty / Prior Art
Topic

Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2150-2159)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2153-01-2084d7fe52bca338137b541f]
Inventor-Originated Disclosure Not Prior Art Within One Year
Note:
This rule states that an inventor's own work disclosed within one year before the effective filing date is not considered prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1).

AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides exceptions to the prior art provisions of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). These exceptions limit the use of an inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work as prior art, when the inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work has been publicly disclosed by the inventor, a joint inventor, or another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor not more than one year before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure which would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) is not prior art if the disclosure was made: (1) One year or less before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; and (2) by the inventor or a joint inventor, or by another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor. MPEP § 2153.01(a) discusses issues pertaining to inventor-originated disclosures within the grace period. MPEP § 2152.01 discusses the “effective filing date” of a claimed invention.

Jump to MPEP SourcePrior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2150-2159)AIA vs Pre-AIA 102 (MPEP 2151)AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Topic

AIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2153-01-839de819f5b486c40ea18e08]
Inventor-Originated Disclosures Within Grace Period Not Prior Art
Note:
MPEP § 2153.01(a) explains that disclosures by inventors within one year of the effective filing date do not count as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A).

AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides exceptions to the prior art provisions of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). These exceptions limit the use of an inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work as prior art, when the inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work has been publicly disclosed by the inventor, a joint inventor, or another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor not more than one year before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure which would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) is not prior art if the disclosure was made: (1) One year or less before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; and (2) by the inventor or a joint inventor, or by another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor. MPEP § 2153.01(a) discusses issues pertaining to inventor-originated disclosures within the grace period. MPEP § 2152.01 discusses the “effective filing date” of a claimed invention.

Jump to MPEP SourceAIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)Grace Period Exception – 102(b) (MPEP 2153)1.130 Affidavit or Declaration (MPEP 2155)
Topic

Determining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIA

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2153-01-6e2fcfcdcad725abf2410c94]
Effective Filing Date of Invention
Note:
MPEP § 2152.01 explains how the effective filing date determines when an inventor's work is considered prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A).

AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides exceptions to the prior art provisions of AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). These exceptions limit the use of an inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work as prior art, when the inventor's or at least one joint inventor’s own work has been publicly disclosed by the inventor, a joint inventor, or another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor not more than one year before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure which would otherwise qualify as prior art under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) is not prior art if the disclosure was made: (1) One year or less before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; and (2) by the inventor or a joint inventor, or by another who obtained the subject matter directly or indirectly from the inventor or joint inventor. MPEP § 2153.01(a) discusses issues pertaining to inventor-originated disclosures within the grace period. MPEP § 2152.01 discusses the “effective filing date” of a claimed invention.

Jump to MPEP SourceDetermining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIADetermining AIA vs Pre-AIA Applicability (MPEP 2159)AIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Statutory Authority for Examination35 U.S.C. § 100
Statutory Authority for Examination35 U.S.C. § 102
AIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)
Determining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIA
Grace Period – Own Disclosure (102(b)(1)(A))
Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2150-2159)
35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1)
AIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)
Determining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIA
Grace Period – Own Disclosure (102(b)(1)(A))
Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2150-2159)
35 U.S.C. § 102(b)(1)(A)
Statutory Authority for ExaminationMPEP § 2131
Statutory Authority for ExaminationMPEP § 2138
AIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)
Determining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIA
Grace Period – Own Disclosure (102(b)(1)(A))
Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2150-2159)
MPEP § 2152.01
AIA Grace Period Exceptions (MPEP 2153)
Determining Whether Application Is AIA or Pre-AIA
Grace Period – Own Disclosure (102(b)(1)(A))
Prior Art Under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2150-2159)
MPEP § 2153.01(a)
Statutory Authority for ExaminationMPEP § 2159

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