MPEP § 2408 — Term of Deposit (Annotated Rules)

§2408 Term of Deposit

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2408, 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.

Term of Deposit

This section addresses Term of Deposit. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.806. Contains: 5 requirements, 2 guidance statements, and 2 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Compliance with Budapest Treaty

7 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2408-c364e10846c929dae2a692ce]
Deposit Term Covers Patent Plus Limitations
Note:
If the deposit term covers the patent term plus six years, no further requirement is necessary.

The term of deposit must satisfy the requirements of the Budapest Treaty which sets a term of at least 30 years from the date of deposit and at least 5 years after the most recent request for the furnishing of a sample of the deposit was received by the depository. In the event that the 30-year term of deposit covers the 17-year term or 20-year term of the patent (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations, no further requirement is necessary. Unless applicant indicates that the deposit has been made under the Budapest Treaty, applicant must indicate the term for which the deposit has been made. The mere possibility of patent term extension or extended litigation involving the patent should not be considered in this analysis.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Compliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological Materials
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2408-e6865b7ea144f8df49692b40]
Deposit Term Must Be Indicated
Note:
Applicants must specify the term for which a deposit has been made unless it is under the Budapest Treaty.

The term of deposit must satisfy the requirements of the Budapest Treaty which sets a term of at least 30 years from the date of deposit and at least 5 years after the most recent request for the furnishing of a sample of the deposit was received by the depository. In the event that the 30-year term of deposit covers the 17-year term or 20-year term of the patent (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations, no further requirement is necessary. Unless applicant indicates that the deposit has been made under the Budapest Treaty, applicant must indicate the term for which the deposit has been made. The mere possibility of patent term extension or extended litigation involving the patent should not be considered in this analysis.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Compliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological Materials
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2408-eae7e89e24f7dc38992a4148]
Deposit Term Must Cover Patent Life
Note:
The deposit term must cover the patent's life, including any extensions and litigation periods without considering potential patent term extensions or extended litigation.

The term of deposit must satisfy the requirements of the Budapest Treaty which sets a term of at least 30 years from the date of deposit and at least 5 years after the most recent request for the furnishing of a sample of the deposit was received by the depository. In the event that the 30-year term of deposit covers the 17-year term or 20-year term of the patent (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations, no further requirement is necessary. Unless applicant indicates that the deposit has been made under the Budapest Treaty, applicant must indicate the term for which the deposit has been made. The mere possibility of patent term extension or extended litigation involving the patent should not be considered in this analysis.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Compliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological Materials
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2408-c78bee418e7eb6a610509b5f]
Samples Must Be Available Beyond Patent Life
Note:
Samples deposited must be stored under agreements ensuring availability beyond the patent's enforceable life if the deposit term would otherwise end within that period.

In the event that the 30-year term of deposit measured from the date of deposit would necessarily terminate within the period of enforceability of the patent (the patent term (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations), samples must be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made. No requirement should be made as to any particular period of time beyond the enforceable life of the patent. The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that a deposited biological material necessary for the practice of a patented invention would be available to the public after expiration of the patent for which the deposit was made. The term of the deposit must comply with the requirements of each sentence of 37 CFR 1.806 whether or not the deposit is made under the Budapest Treaty. A specific statement that the deposit would be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made is required only where the 30-year term of deposit would terminate within the enforceable life of the patent.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Compliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological Materials
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2408-7e864fdb968e4270f03ef374]
Deposit Must Be Available Beyond Patent Life
Note:
The deposit must be stored to remain available after the patent's enforceable life, ensuring access for public use post-patent expiration.

In the event that the 30-year term of deposit measured from the date of deposit would necessarily terminate within the period of enforceability of the patent (the patent term (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations), samples must be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made. No requirement should be made as to any particular period of time beyond the enforceable life of the patent. The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that a deposited biological material necessary for the practice of a patented invention would be available to the public after expiration of the patent for which the deposit was made. The term of the deposit must comply with the requirements of each sentence of 37 CFR 1.806 whether or not the deposit is made under the Budapest Treaty. A specific statement that the deposit would be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made is required only where the 30-year term of deposit would terminate within the enforceable life of the patent.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Compliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological Materials
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2408-99ab26f673b8a7fb8302d02b]
Deposit Must Comply with 37 CFR 1.806
Note:
The term of the deposit must meet all requirements of 37 CFR 1.806, regardless of whether it is made under the Budapest Treaty.

In the event that the 30-year term of deposit measured from the date of deposit would necessarily terminate within the period of enforceability of the patent (the patent term (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations), samples must be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made. No requirement should be made as to any particular period of time beyond the enforceable life of the patent. The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that a deposited biological material necessary for the practice of a patented invention would be available to the public after expiration of the patent for which the deposit was made. The term of the deposit must comply with the requirements of each sentence of 37 CFR 1.806 whether or not the deposit is made under the Budapest Treaty. A specific statement that the deposit would be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made is required only where the 30-year term of deposit would terminate within the enforceable life of the patent.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Compliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological Materials
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2408-4bfd67fa0d6a103decf611c9]
Deposit Must Be Available Beyond Patent Life If Termination Within 30 Years
Note:
The deposit must be stored under agreements making it available beyond the patent's enforceable life if the 30-year term of deposit would terminate within that period.

In the event that the 30-year term of deposit measured from the date of deposit would necessarily terminate within the period of enforceability of the patent (the patent term (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations), samples must be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made. No requirement should be made as to any particular period of time beyond the enforceable life of the patent. The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that a deposited biological material necessary for the practice of a patented invention would be available to the public after expiration of the patent for which the deposit was made. The term of the deposit must comply with the requirements of each sentence of 37 CFR 1.806 whether or not the deposit is made under the Budapest Treaty. A specific statement that the deposit would be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made is required only where the 30-year term of deposit would terminate within the enforceable life of the patent.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Compliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological Materials
Topic

Budapest Treaty Deposits

1 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2408-0648309f1b91922b94f1c2ac]
Deposit Must Meet Budapest Treaty Requirements
Note:
The deposit must be held for at least 30 years from the date of deposit and an additional 5 years after any sample request, ensuring compliance with the Budapest Treaty.

The term of deposit must satisfy the requirements of the Budapest Treaty which sets a term of at least 30 years from the date of deposit and at least 5 years after the most recent request for the furnishing of a sample of the deposit was received by the depository. In the event that the 30-year term of deposit covers the 17-year term or 20-year term of the patent (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations, no further requirement is necessary. Unless applicant indicates that the deposit has been made under the Budapest Treaty, applicant must indicate the term for which the deposit has been made. The mere possibility of patent term extension or extended litigation involving the patent should not be considered in this analysis.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Budapest Treaty DepositsDeposit of Biological MaterialsCompliance with Budapest Treaty
Topic

Deposit of Biological Materials

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2408-2825b7d21d24b52a0f358eb0]
Deposit Must Be Available After Patent Expiration
Note:
A deposited biological material must be stored to remain available to the public after the patent expires, even if the deposit term ends during the patent’s enforceable life.

In the event that the 30-year term of deposit measured from the date of deposit would necessarily terminate within the period of enforceability of the patent (the patent term (see MPEP § 2701) plus 6 years to include the Statute of Limitations), samples must be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made. No requirement should be made as to any particular period of time beyond the enforceable life of the patent. The purpose of the requirement is to ensure that a deposited biological material necessary for the practice of a patented invention would be available to the public after expiration of the patent for which the deposit was made. The term of the deposit must comply with the requirements of each sentence of 37 CFR 1.806 whether or not the deposit is made under the Budapest Treaty. A specific statement that the deposit would be stored under agreements that would make them available beyond the enforceable life of the patent for which the deposit was made is required only where the 30-year term of deposit would terminate within the enforceable life of the patent.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.806Deposit of Biological MaterialsCompliance with Budapest TreatyBudapest Treaty Deposits

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Compliance with Budapest Treaty
Deposit of Biological Materials
37 CFR § 1.806
Budapest Treaty Deposits
Compliance with Budapest Treaty
Deposit of Biological Materials
MPEP § 2701

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