MPEP § 2155.05 — Who May File an Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130 (Annotated Rules)

§2155.05 Who May File an Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2155.05, 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.

Who May File an Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130

This section addresses Who May File an Affidavit or Declaration Under 37 CFR 1.130. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 100, 35 U.S.C. 102, and 35 U.S.C. 118. Contains: 2 requirements, 1 permission, and 2 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

PTAB Jurisdiction

2 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2155-05-d58ba25bb40584126eed2412]
Affidavit or Declaration Requirement for Patent Owner
Note:
The applicant or patent owner must submit an affidavit or declaration, with authority to file generally not lying with the inventor unless they are also the applicant.

In accordance with 37 CFR 1.130, the applicant or patent owner may submit an affidavit or declaration. When an assignee, obligated assignee, or person showing sufficient proprietary interest is the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 118 rather than the inventor, the applicant or their representative must be the party that files the affidavit or declaration under 37 CFR 1.130 even if the inventor or any party with knowledge of the relevant facts signed the affidavit or declaration. In other words, the affidavit or declaration must be filed by a party having authority to take action in the application. Authority to file papers in an application generally does not lie with the inventor if the inventor is not the applicant. See MPEP § 717.01(c).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.130PTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresInventor Signature Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2155-05-79c3df6c744b4bc819eaf398]
Affidavit Must Be Filed by Applicant
Note:
An affidavit or declaration must be filed by the applicant or their representative, not the inventor if the inventor is not the applicant.

In accordance with 37 CFR 1.130, the applicant or patent owner may submit an affidavit or declaration. When an assignee, obligated assignee, or person showing sufficient proprietary interest is the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 118 rather than the inventor, the applicant or their representative must be the party that files the affidavit or declaration under 37 CFR 1.130 even if the inventor or any party with knowledge of the relevant facts signed the affidavit or declaration. In other words, the affidavit or declaration must be filed by a party having authority to take action in the application. Authority to file papers in an application generally does not lie with the inventor if the inventor is not the applicant. See MPEP § 717.01(c).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.130PTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresInventor Signature Requirements
Topic

PTAB Contested Case Procedures

2 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2155-05-33b17b09e1061da94e532c2d]
Applicant Must File Affidavit
Note:
The applicant or their representative must file the affidavit or declaration under 37 CFR 1.130, even if signed by another party with knowledge of relevant facts.

In accordance with 37 CFR 1.130, the applicant or patent owner may submit an affidavit or declaration. When an assignee, obligated assignee, or person showing sufficient proprietary interest is the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 118 rather than the inventor, the applicant or their representative must be the party that files the affidavit or declaration under 37 CFR 1.130 even if the inventor or any party with knowledge of the relevant facts signed the affidavit or declaration. In other words, the affidavit or declaration must be filed by a party having authority to take action in the application. Authority to file papers in an application generally does not lie with the inventor if the inventor is not the applicant. See MPEP § 717.01(c).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.130PTAB Contested Case ProceduresPTAB JurisdictionInventor Signature Requirements
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2155-05-38740f0e7f80d6eaee556473]
Filer Must Have Authority to Act in Application
Note:
The affidavit or declaration must be filed by a party who has the authority to take action in the application, typically the applicant or their representative.

In accordance with 37 CFR 1.130, the applicant or patent owner may submit an affidavit or declaration. When an assignee, obligated assignee, or person showing sufficient proprietary interest is the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 118 rather than the inventor, the applicant or their representative must be the party that files the affidavit or declaration under 37 CFR 1.130 even if the inventor or any party with knowledge of the relevant facts signed the affidavit or declaration. In other words, the affidavit or declaration must be filed by a party having authority to take action in the application. Authority to file papers in an application generally does not lie with the inventor if the inventor is not the applicant. See MPEP § 717.01(c).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.130PTAB Contested Case ProceduresPTAB JurisdictionInventor Signature Requirements
Topic

Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2131-2138)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2155-05-af7f740d04945b01281ad6d5]
First Inventor to File Provisions Under AIA
Note:
This rule applies to applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the America Invents Act (AIA), as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 100.

[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 SourcePrior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2131-2138)Statutory Authority for ExaminationAIA vs Pre-AIA Practice

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2131-2138)35 U.S.C. § 100
Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2131-2138)35 U.S.C. § 102
PTAB Contested Case Procedures
PTAB Jurisdiction
35 U.S.C. § 118
PTAB Contested Case Procedures
PTAB Jurisdiction
37 CFR § 1.130
Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2131-2138)MPEP § 2131
Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2131-2138)MPEP § 2138
Prior Art Under Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 (MPEP 2131-2138)MPEP § 2159
PTAB Contested Case Procedures
PTAB Jurisdiction
MPEP § 717.01(c)

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