MPEP § 2920.05(e) — Benefit Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) (Annotated Rules)
§2920.05(e) Benefit Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 386(c)
This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2920.05(e), 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.
Benefit Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 386(c)
This section addresses Benefit Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 386(c). Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 386(c), 35 U.S.C. 120, and 35 U.S.C. 100(i)(1)(B). Contains: 2 requirements, 2 prohibitions, 1 guidance statement, 1 permission, and 1 other statement.
Key Rules
Design Benefit Claims
(a) Claims under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) for the benefit of a prior-filed provisional application. An applicant in a nonprovisional application, other than for a design patent, or an international application designating the United States may claim the benefit of one or more prior-filed provisional applications under the conditions set forth in 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and this section.
(a) Claims under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) for the benefit of a prior-filed provisional application. An applicant in a nonprovisional application, other than for a design patent, or an international application designating the United States may claim the benefit of one or more prior-filed provisional applications under the conditions set forth in 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and this section.
An application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) to an international design application designating the United States may identify the international design application by the U.S. application number or by the international registration number and U.S. filing date under 37 CFR 1.1023. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(2). To obtain benefit of the filing date of a prior international design application designating the United States, the international design application must be entitled to a filing date in accordance with 37 CFR 1.1023. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(1)(ii).
An application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) to an international design application designating the United States may identify the international design application by the U.S. application number or by the international registration number and U.S. filing date under 37 CFR 1.1023. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(2). To obtain benefit of the filing date of a prior international design application designating the United States, the international design application must be entitled to a filing date in accordance with 37 CFR 1.1023. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(1)(ii).
When a later-filed international design application designating the United States is claiming the benefit of a prior-filed application under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c), the later-filed application must be copending with the prior application or with an intermediate application similarly entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the prior application. In determining whether an international design application designating the United States is copending with a prior-filed application, it is the U.S. filing date of the international design application that is relevant, which may or may not be the same as the international filing date assigned by the International Bureau. See MPEP §§ 2906-2908. Thus, if the international design application designating the United States has an international filing date before, but a U.S. filing date after, the date of abandonment of the prior-filed application, the benefit claim should be refused because the international design application designating the United States does not comply with the copendency requirement of 35 U.S.C. 120.
Design Claim Form
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 386(c), in accordance with the conditions and requirements of 35 U.S.C. 120, an international design application designating the United States is entitled to claim the benefit of the filing date of a prior nonprovisional application, international application (PCT) designating the United States, or international design application designating the United States, and a nonprovisional application is entitled to the benefit of a prior international design application designating the United States. See MPEP §§ 211 and 1504.20. An international design application designating the United States may not claim benefit to a provisional application. See 37 CFR 1.78(a).
When a later-filed international design application designating the United States is claiming the benefit of a prior-filed application under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c), the later-filed application must be copending with the prior application or with an intermediate application similarly entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the prior application. In determining whether an international design application designating the United States is copending with a prior-filed application, it is the U.S. filing date of the international design application that is relevant, which may or may not be the same as the international filing date assigned by the International Bureau. See MPEP §§ 2906-2908. Thus, if the international design application designating the United States has an international filing date before, but a U.S. filing date after, the date of abandonment of the prior-filed application, the benefit claim should be refused because the international design application designating the United States does not comply with the copendency requirement of 35 U.S.C. 120.
Conversion to Nonprovisional
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 386(c), in accordance with the conditions and requirements of 35 U.S.C. 120, an international design application designating the United States is entitled to claim the benefit of the filing date of a prior nonprovisional application, international application (PCT) designating the United States, or international design application designating the United States, and a nonprovisional application is entitled to the benefit of a prior international design application designating the United States. See MPEP §§ 211 and 1504.20. An international design application designating the United States may not claim benefit to a provisional application. See 37 CFR 1.78(a).
Continuation Benefit Claims
For purposes of determining the effective filing date under AIA 35 U.S.C. 100(i)(1)(B) with regard to a benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) to a prior-filed international design application designating the United States, the U.S. filing date of the international design application rather than the international filing date, if different, should be used.
Citations
| Primary topic | Citation |
|---|---|
| Continuation Benefit Claims | 35 U.S.C. § 100(i)(1)(B) |
| Design Benefit Claims | 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) |
| Conversion to Nonprovisional Design Benefit Claims Design Claim Form | 35 U.S.C. § 120 |
| Continuation Benefit Claims Conversion to Nonprovisional Design Benefit Claims Design Claim Form | 35 U.S.C. § 386(c) |
| Design Benefit Claims | 37 CFR § 1.1023 |
| Conversion to Nonprovisional Design Claim Form | 37 CFR § 1.78(a) |
| Design Benefit Claims | 37 CFR § 1.78(d)(1)(ii) |
| Design Benefit Claims | 37 CFR § 1.78(d)(2) |
| Conversion to Nonprovisional Design Claim Form | MPEP § 211 |
| Design Benefit Claims Design Claim Form | MPEP § 2906 |
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 § 2920.05(e) — Benefit Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 386(c)
Source: USPTO2920.05(e) Benefit Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) [R-07.2015]
35 U.S.C. 386 Right of priority.
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- (c) PRIOR NATIONAL APPLICATION.—In accordance with the conditions and requirements of section 120, an international design application designating the United States shall be entitled to the benefit of the filing date of a prior national application, a prior international application as defined in section 351(c) designating the United States, or a prior international design application designating the United States, and a national application shall be entitled to the benefit of the filing date of a prior international design application designating the United States. If any claim for the benefit of an earlier filing date is based on a prior international application as defined in section 351(c) which designated but did not originate in the United States or a prior international design application which designated but did not originate in the United States, the Director may require the filing in the Patent and Trademark Office of a certified copy of such application together with a translation thereof into the English language, if it was filed in another language.
37 CFR 1.78 Claiming benefit of earlier filing date and cross-references to other applications.
- (a) Claims under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) for the benefit of a prior-filed provisional application. An applicant in a nonprovisional application, other than for a design patent, or an international application designating the United States may claim the benefit of one or more prior-filed provisional applications under the conditions set forth in 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and this section.
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- (d) Claims under 35 U.S.C. 120,
121, 365(c), or
386(c) for the
benefit of a prior-filed nonprovisional application, international
application, or international design application. An applicant
in a nonprovisional application (including a nonprovisional application
resulting from an international application or international design
application), an international application designating the United States, or
an international design application designating the United States may claim
the benefit of one or more prior-filed copending nonprovisional
applications, international applications designating the United States, or
international design applications designating the United States under the
conditions set forth in 35 U.S.C. 120,
121, 365(c), or
386(c) and this
section.
- (1) Each prior-filed application must name
the inventor or a joint inventor named in the later-filed application
as the inventor or a joint inventor. In addition, each prior-filed
application must either be:
- (i) An international application entitled to a filing date in accordance with PCT Article 11 and designating the United States;
- (ii) An international design application entitled to a filing date in accordance with § 1.1023 and designating the United States; or
- (iii) A nonprovisional application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) that is entitled to a filing date as set forth in § 1.53(b) or (d) for which the basic filing fee set forth in § 1.16 has been paid within the pendency of the application.
- (2) Except for a continued prosecution application filed under § 1.53(d), any nonprovisional application, international application designating the United States, or international design application designating the United States that claims the benefit of one or more prior-filed nonprovisional applications, international applications designating the United States, or international design applications designating the United States must contain or be amended to contain a reference to each such prior-filed application, identifying it by application number (consisting of the series code and serial number), international application number and international filing date, or international registration number and filing date under § 1.1023. If the later-filed application is a nonprovisional application, the reference required by this paragraph must be included in an application data sheet (§ 1.76(b)(5) ). The reference also must identify the relationship of the applications, namely, whether the later-filed application is a continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part of the prior-filed nonprovisional application, international application, or international design application.
- (3)
- (i) The reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and paragraph (d)(2) of this section must be submitted during the pendency of the later-filed application.
- (ii) If the later-filed application is
an application filed under 35
U.S.C. 111(a), this reference must also be
submitted within the later of four months from the actual filing
date of the later-filed application or sixteen months from the
filing date of the prior-filed application. If the later-filed
application is a nonprovisional application entering the
national stage from an international application under
35 U.S.C.
371, this reference must also be submitted
within the later of four months from the date on which the
national stage commenced under 35 U.S.C.
371(b) or (f) (§ 1.491(a) ), four months from the date of
the initial submission under 35 U.S.C.
371 to enter the national stage, or
sixteen months from the filing date of the prior-filed
application. The time periods in this paragraph do not apply if
the later-filed application is:
- (A) An application for a design patent;
- (B) An application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) before November 29, 2000; or
- (C) An international application filed under 35 U.S.C. 363 before November 29, 2000.
- (iii) Except as provided in paragraph (e) of this section, failure to timely submit the reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and paragraph (d)(2) of this section is considered a waiver of any benefit under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to the prior-filed application.
- (4) The request for a continued prosecution application under § 1.53(d) is the specific reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 to the prior-filed application. The identification of an application by application number under this section is the identification of every application assigned that application number necessary for a specific reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 to every such application assigned that application number.
- (5) Cross-references to other related applications may be made when appropriate (see § 1.14), but cross-references to applications for which a benefit is not claimed under title 35, United States Code, must not be included in an application data sheet (§ 1.76(b)(5) ).
- (6) If a nonprovisional application filed
on or after March 16, 2013, other than a nonprovisional international
design application, claims the benefit of the filing date of a
nonprovisional application or an international application designating
the United States filed prior to March 16, 2013, and also contains, or
contained at any time, a claim to a claimed invention that has an
effective filing date as defined in § 1.109 that is on or after March 16, 2013, the
applicant must provide a statement to that effect within the later of
four months from the actual filing date of the later-filed
application, four months from the date of entry into the national
stage as set forth in § 1.491 in an
international application, sixteen months from the filing date of the
prior-filed application, or the date that a first claim to a claimed
invention that has an effective filing date on or after March 16,
2013, is presented in the later-filed application. An applicant is not
required to provide such a statement if either:
- (i) The application claims the benefit of a nonprovisional application in which a statement under § 1.55(k) , paragraph (a)(6) of this section, or this paragraph that the application contains, or contained at any time, a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013 has been filed; or
- (ii) The applicant reasonably believes on the basis of information already known to the individuals designated in § 1.56(c) that the later filed application does not, and did not at any time, contain a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date on or after March 16, 2013.
- (7) Where benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) to an international application or an international design application which designates but did not originate in the United States, the Office may require a certified copy of such application together with an English translation thereof if filed in another language.
- (1) Each prior-filed application must name
the inventor or a joint inventor named in the later-filed application
as the inventor or a joint inventor. In addition, each prior-filed
application must either be:
- (e) Delayed claims under 35 U.S.C. 120,
121, 365(c), or
386(c) for the
benefit of a prior-filed nonprovisional application, international
application, or international design application. If the
reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and
paragraph (d)(2) of this section is presented after the time period provided
by paragraph (d)(3) of this section, the claim under 35 U.S.C.
120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) for the benefit
of a prior-filed copending nonprovisional application, international
application designating the United States, or international design
application designating the United States may be accepted if the reference
required by paragraph (d)(2) of this section was unintentionally delayed. A
petition to accept an unintentionally delayed claim under 35 U.S.C.
120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) for the benefit
of a prior-filed application must be accompanied by:
- (1) The reference required by 35 U.S.C. 120 and paragraph (d)(2) of this section to the prior-filed application, unless previously submitted;
- (2) The petition fee as set forth in § 1.17(m); and
- (3) A statement that the entire delay between the date the benefit claim was due under paragraph (d)(3) of this section and the date the benefit claim was filed was unintentional. The Director may require additional information where there is a question whether the delay was unintentional.
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- (j) Benefit under 35 U.S.C. 386(c). Benefit under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) with respect to an international design application is applicable only to nonprovisional applications, international applications, and international design applications filed on or after May 13, 2015, and patents issuing thereon.
- (k) Time periods in this section. The time periods set forth in this section are not extendable, but are subject to 35 U.S.C. 21(b) (and § 1.7(a)), PCT Rule 80.5, and Hague Agreement Rule 4(4).
Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 386(c), in accordance with the conditions and requirements of 35 U.S.C. 120, an international design application designating the United States is entitled to claim the benefit of the filing date of a prior nonprovisional application, international application (PCT) designating the United States, or international design application designating the United States, and a nonprovisional application is entitled to the benefit of a prior international design application designating the United States. See MPEP §§ 211 and 1504.20. An international design application designating the United States may not claim benefit to a provisional application. See 37 CFR 1.78(a).
An application claiming benefit under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) to an international design application designating the United States may identify the international design application by the U.S. application number or by the international registration number and U.S. filing date under 37 CFR 1.1023. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(2). To obtain benefit of the filing date of a prior international design application designating the United States, the international design application must be entitled to a filing date in accordance with 37 CFR 1.1023. See 37 CFR 1.78(d)(1)(ii).
When a later-filed international design application designating the United States is claiming the benefit of a prior-filed application under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c), the later-filed application must be copending with the prior application or with an intermediate application similarly entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the prior application. In determining whether an international design application designating the United States is copending with a prior-filed application, it is the U.S. filing date of the international design application that is relevant, which may or may not be the same as the international filing date assigned by the International Bureau. See MPEP §§ 2906-2908. Thus, if the international design application designating the United States has an international filing date before, but a U.S. filing date after, the date of abandonment of the prior-filed application, the benefit claim should be refused because the international design application designating the United States does not comply with the copendency requirement of 35 U.S.C. 120.
For purposes of determining the effective filing date under AIA 35 U.S.C. 100(i)(1)(B) with regard to a benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 386(c) to a prior-filed international design application designating the United States, the U.S. filing date of the international design application rather than the international filing date, if different, should be used.