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
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
Working and Prophetic Examples (MPEP 2164.02)
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
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
35 U.S.C. 112(a) – Written Description & Enablement
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
Unclaimed Essential Subject Matter (MPEP 2172.01)
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
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
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).
Domestic Benefit Claims (35 U.S.C. 120/121)
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).
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| 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.
Official MPEP § 2172 — Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention
Source: USPTO2172 Subject Matter Which the Inventor or a Joint Inventor Regards as The Invention [R-07.2022]
I. FOCUS FOR EXAMINATIONA rejection based on the failure of the claims to set forth the subject matter that the inventor regards as the invention is appropriate only where an inventor has stated, somewhere other than in the application as filed, that the invention is something different from what is defined by the claims. In other words, the invention set forth in the claims must be presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to be that which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. In reMoore, 439 F.2d 1232, 169 USPQ 236 (CCPA 1971). See also In re Zahn, 617 F.2d 261, 204 USPQ 988 (CCPA 1980).
II. EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARYEvidence 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 rePrater, 415 F.2d 1393, 162 USPQ 541 (CCPA 1969)), or in affidavits filed under 37 CFR 1.132 (see, e.g., In reCormany, 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 reEhrreich, 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
III. SHIFT IN CLAIMS PERMITTED35 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 reSaunders, 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 reBrower, 433 F.2d 813, 167 USPQ 684 (CCPA 1970).