MPEP § 2308.02 — Added or Amended Claims (Annotated Rules)

§2308.02 Added or Amended Claims

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2308.02, 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.

Added or Amended Claims

This section addresses Added or Amended Claims. Contains: 3 permissions and 3 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

PTAB Jurisdiction

6 rules
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2308-02-3ec7d0a057d66c497cbbce8c]
Motion to Add or Amend Claim During Interference Allowed
Note:
An applicant can file a motion during an interference proceeding to add or amend claims, subject to the Board's authorization.

An applicant may file a motion during the interference to add or amend a claim. A patentee may file a reissue application in support of a motion to add or amend a claim. A copy of the paper adding or amending the claim will be placed in the official record of the application, but not entered. A decision on the motion is entered in the official record of the application. The examiner may enter the added claim or amended claim into the application only if, and only to the extent, authorized by the Board, typically in the decision on the motion. The decision authorizing entry of the added or amended claim does not prevent the examiner from rejecting the claim during further prosecution.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresReissue Application Filing
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2308-02-0ea9c6e3dd9de752cb2094ab]
Patentee May File Reissue for Claim Amendments
Note:
A patentee can file a reissue application to support motions to add or amend claims in an interference proceeding.

An applicant may file a motion during the interference to add or amend a claim. A patentee may file a reissue application in support of a motion to add or amend a claim. A copy of the paper adding or amending the claim will be placed in the official record of the application, but not entered. A decision on the motion is entered in the official record of the application. The examiner may enter the added claim or amended claim into the application only if, and only to the extent, authorized by the Board, typically in the decision on the motion. The decision authorizing entry of the added or amended claim does not prevent the examiner from rejecting the claim during further prosecution.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresReissue Application Filing
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-2308-02-63c164c35fa137742c045e61]
Added Claim Not Entered Officially
Note:
A copy of the claim addition paper is placed in the official record but not entered officially; entry requires Board authorization.

An applicant may file a motion during the interference to add or amend a claim. A patentee may file a reissue application in support of a motion to add or amend a claim. A copy of the paper adding or amending the claim will be placed in the official record of the application, but not entered. A decision on the motion is entered in the official record of the application. The examiner may enter the added claim or amended claim into the application only if, and only to the extent, authorized by the Board, typically in the decision on the motion. The decision authorizing entry of the added or amended claim does not prevent the examiner from rejecting the claim during further prosecution.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresReissue Application Filing
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-2308-02-ac33863ee2ad3e56807e896f]
Motion Decision Must Be Recorded Officially
Note:
A decision on a motion to add or amend claims must be recorded in the official application record.

An applicant may file a motion during the interference to add or amend a claim. A patentee may file a reissue application in support of a motion to add or amend a claim. A copy of the paper adding or amending the claim will be placed in the official record of the application, but not entered. A decision on the motion is entered in the official record of the application. The examiner may enter the added claim or amended claim into the application only if, and only to the extent, authorized by the Board, typically in the decision on the motion. The decision authorizing entry of the added or amended claim does not prevent the examiner from rejecting the claim during further prosecution.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresReissue Application Filing
MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-2308-02-b393f2855969ecdbf0f524c5]
Examiner Must Enter Claim Per Board Decision
Note:
The examiner can enter an added or amended claim into the application only if authorized by the Board's decision on the motion.

An applicant may file a motion during the interference to add or amend a claim. A patentee may file a reissue application in support of a motion to add or amend a claim. A copy of the paper adding or amending the claim will be placed in the official record of the application, but not entered. A decision on the motion is entered in the official record of the application. The examiner may enter the added claim or amended claim into the application only if, and only to the extent, authorized by the Board, typically in the decision on the motion. The decision authorizing entry of the added or amended claim does not prevent the examiner from rejecting the claim during further prosecution.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresEx Parte Appeals to PTAB
MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-2308-02-ee4eadd3cf172ffdb11351b2]
Examiner Can Reject Amended Claim After Approval
Note:
The examiner is permitted to reject an amended claim even if the Board has authorized its entry into the application.

An applicant may file a motion during the interference to add or amend a claim. A patentee may file a reissue application in support of a motion to add or amend a claim. A copy of the paper adding or amending the claim will be placed in the official record of the application, but not entered. A decision on the motion is entered in the official record of the application. The examiner may enter the added claim or amended claim into the application only if, and only to the extent, authorized by the Board, typically in the decision on the motion. The decision authorizing entry of the added or amended claim does not prevent the examiner from rejecting the claim during further prosecution.

Jump to MPEP SourcePTAB JurisdictionPTAB Contested Case ProceduresReissue Application Filing

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