MPEP § 2172 — Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention (Annotated Rules)

§2172 Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2172, 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.

Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention

This section addresses Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 112(a), 35 U.S.C. 112, and 35 U.S.C. 112(b). Contains: 1 permission and 4 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)

2 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2172-de3d6b2427c71750f1a086ca]
Claims Must Correspond to Inventor’s View of Invention
Note:
The claims must align with the inventor's description of their invention, as evidenced by briefs, remarks, or affidavits filed by the applicant.

Evidence that shows that a claim does not correspond in scope with that which an inventor regards as an inventor’s invention may be found, for example, in contentions or admissions contained in briefs or remarks filed by applicant (see e.g., Solomon v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 216 F.3d 1372, 55 USPQ2d 1279 (Fed. Cir. 2000) and In re Prater, 415 F.2d 1393, 162 USPQ 541 (CCPA 1969)), or in affidavits filed under 37 CFR 1.132 (see, e.g., In re Cormany, 476 F.2d 998, 177 USPQ 450 (CCPA 1973)). The content of the specification is not used as evidence that the scope of the claims is inconsistent with the subject matter which an inventor regards as his or her invention. As noted in In re Ehrreich, 590 F.2d 902, 907, 200 USPQ 504, 508 (CCPA 1979), agreement, or lack thereof, between the claims and the specification is properly considered only with respect to 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph. For information on rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, see MPEP § 2172.01

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.132Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)Assignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIA
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2172-596a0cd6dafcf4f208960c3b]
Specification Content Is Not Used as Evidence of Claim Scope Mismatch
Note:
The content of the specification is not used to show that the claims do not match what the inventor considers their invention.

Evidence that shows that a claim does not correspond in scope with that which an inventor regards as an inventor’s invention may be found, for example, in contentions or admissions contained in briefs or remarks filed by applicant (see e.g., Solomon v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 216 F.3d 1372, 55 USPQ2d 1279 (Fed. Cir. 2000) and In re Prater, 415 F.2d 1393, 162 USPQ 541 (CCPA 1969)), or in affidavits filed under 37 CFR 1.132 (see, e.g., In re Cormany, 476 F.2d 998, 177 USPQ 450 (CCPA 1973)). The content of the specification is not used as evidence that the scope of the claims is inconsistent with the subject matter which an inventor regards as his or her invention. As noted in In re Ehrreich, 590 F.2d 902, 907, 200 USPQ 504, 508 (CCPA 1979), agreement, or lack thereof, between the claims and the specification is properly considered only with respect to 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph. For information on rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, see MPEP § 2172.01

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.132Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)Assignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIA
Topic

35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2172-76d03ffafb256141542c8ad8]
Requirement for Claims to Correspond with Specification
Note:
The claims must correspond in scope with the inventor's description of the invention as disclosed in the specification.

Evidence that shows that a claim does not correspond in scope with that which an inventor regards as an inventor’s invention may be found, for example, in contentions or admissions contained in briefs or remarks filed by applicant (see e.g., Solomon v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 216 F.3d 1372, 55 USPQ2d 1279 (Fed. Cir. 2000) and In re Prater, 415 F.2d 1393, 162 USPQ 541 (CCPA 1969)), or in affidavits filed under 37 CFR 1.132 (see, e.g., In re Cormany, 476 F.2d 998, 177 USPQ 450 (CCPA 1973)). The content of the specification is not used as evidence that the scope of the claims is inconsistent with the subject matter which an inventor regards as his or her invention. As noted in In re Ehrreich, 590 F.2d 902, 907, 200 USPQ 504, 508 (CCPA 1979), agreement, or lack thereof, between the claims and the specification is properly considered only with respect to 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph. For information on rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, see MPEP § 2172.01

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.13235 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & EnablementAIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeDisclosure Requirements
Topic

Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2172-452b551d633d208229a5ac10]
Claims Must Correspond to Inventor’s Invention
Note:
The claims must align with the inventor's description of their invention, as evidenced by briefs, remarks, or affidavits.

Evidence that shows that a claim does not correspond in scope with that which an inventor regards as an inventor’s invention may be found, for example, in contentions or admissions contained in briefs or remarks filed by applicant (see e.g., Solomon v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 216 F.3d 1372, 55 USPQ2d 1279 (Fed. Cir. 2000) and In re Prater, 415 F.2d 1393, 162 USPQ 541 (CCPA 1969)), or in affidavits filed under 37 CFR 1.132 (see, e.g., In re Cormany, 476 F.2d 998, 177 USPQ 450 (CCPA 1973)). The content of the specification is not used as evidence that the scope of the claims is inconsistent with the subject matter which an inventor regards as his or her invention. As noted in In re Ehrreich, 590 F.2d 902, 907, 200 USPQ 504, 508 (CCPA 1979), agreement, or lack thereof, between the claims and the specification is properly considered only with respect to 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph. For information on rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, see MPEP § 2172.01

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.132Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)AIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeDisclosure Requirements
Topic

AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2172-f85d7d3535f9f3378d71d563]
Inventor Can Modify View of Invention During Pendency
Note:
The inventor is permitted to change their view of the invention during the application's pendency without affecting its filing date benefits.

35 U.S.C. 112(b) or the second paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112 does not prohibit the inventor or a joint inventor from changing what inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention during the pendency of the application. In re Saunders, 444 F.2d 599, 170 USPQ 213 (CCPA 1971) (permitting claims and submission of comparative evidence with respect to claimed subject matter which originally was only the preferred embodiment within much broader claims (directed to a method)). The fact that claims in a continuation application were directed to originally disclosed subject matter which had not been regarded as part of the invention when the parent application was filed was held not to prevent the continuation application from receiving benefits of the filing date of the parent application under 35 U.S.C. 120. In re Brower, 433 F.2d 813, 167 USPQ 684 (CCPA 1970).

Jump to MPEP SourceAIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeDisclosure RequirementsDomestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)
Topic

Domestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2172-fdfed2537f4d7bf6b608cf70]
Continuation Application Can Receive Parent Filing Date
Note:
A continuation application can receive the filing date of the parent application even if claims are directed to originally disclosed subject matter not regarded as part of the invention when the parent was filed.

35 U.S.C. 112(b) or the second paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112 does not prohibit the inventor or a joint inventor from changing what inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention during the pendency of the application. In re Saunders, 444 F.2d 599, 170 USPQ 213 (CCPA 1971) (permitting claims and submission of comparative evidence with respect to claimed subject matter which originally was only the preferred embodiment within much broader claims (directed to a method)). The fact that claims in a continuation application were directed to originally disclosed subject matter which had not been regarded as part of the invention when the parent application was filed was held not to prevent the continuation application from receiving benefits of the filing date of the parent application under 35 U.S.C. 120. In re Brower, 433 F.2d 813, 167 USPQ 684 (CCPA 1970).

Jump to MPEP SourceDomestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)Priority and Benefit ClaimsAIA vs Pre-AIA Practice

Citations

Primary topicCitation
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Domestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
35 U.S.C. § 112
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
35 U.S.C. § 112(a)
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Domestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
35 U.S.C. § 112(b)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Domestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)
35 U.S.C. § 120
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
37 CFR § 1.132
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
MPEP § 2172.01
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Domestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)
In re Brower, 433 F.2d 813, 167 USPQ 684 (CCPA 1970)
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
In re Cormany, 476 F.2d 998, 177 USPQ 450 (CCPA 1973)
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
In re Ehrreich, 590 F.2d 902, 907, 200 USPQ 504, 508 (CCPA 1979)
In re Moore, 439 F.2d 1232, 169 USPQ 236 (CCPA 1971)
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
In re Prater, 415 F.2d 1393, 162 USPQ 541 (CCPA 1969)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Domestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)
In re Saunders, 444 F.2d 599, 170 USPQ 213 (CCPA 1971)
In re Zahn, 617 F.2d 261, 204 USPQ 988 (CCPA 1980)
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
Solomon v. Kimberly-Clark Corp., 216 F.3d 1372, 55 USPQ2d 1279 (Fed. Cir. 2000)

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