MPEP § 609.06 — Information Printed on Patent (Annotated Rules)

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 609.06, 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.

Information Printed on Patent

This section addresses Information Printed on Patent.

Key Rules

Permitted Actions (1)

MPEP GuidancePermittedAlways
[mpep-609-06-4a51f0367cda9e88a367f676]
Avoid Publishing Pending Applications on Patents
Note:
Applicants can list U.S. patent application numbers in a format other than PTO/SB/08 to prevent pending applications from being published on the patent.

If the applicant does not provide classification information for a citation, or if the examiner lines through incorrect classification data, the citation will be printed on the face of the patent without the classification information. If a U.S. patent application number is listed on a PTO/SB/08 form or its equivalent and the examiner considers the information and initials the form, the application number will be printed on the patent. Applicants may wish to list U.S. patent application numbers on other than a form PTO/SB/08 format to avoid the application numbers of pending applications being published on the patent. If a citation is not printed on the patent but has been considered by the examiner, the patented file will reflect that fact as noted in MPEP § 609.05(b).

Definitions & Scope (3)

MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-609-06-9ffb1659fef37c2f98db2d65]
Citation Without Classification Printed on Patent
Note:
If the applicant does not provide classification information for a citation, it will be printed without classification on the patent.

If the applicant does not provide classification information for a citation, or if the examiner lines through incorrect classification data, the citation will be printed on the face of the patent without the classification information. If a U.S. patent application number is listed on a PTO/SB/08 form or its equivalent and the examiner considers the information and initials the form, the application number will be printed on the patent. Applicants may wish to list U.S. patent application numbers on other than a form PTO/SB/08 format to avoid the application numbers of pending applications being published on the patent. If a citation is not printed on the patent but has been considered by the examiner, the patented file will reflect that fact as noted in MPEP § 609.05(b).

MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-609-06-8b23d0573579107838074a81]
U.S. Patent Application Number Listed on PTO/SB/08 Form Must Appear on Patent
Note:
If a U.S. patent application number is listed on a PTO/SB/08 form and the examiner considers the information, it must be printed on the patent.

If the applicant does not provide classification information for a citation, or if the examiner lines through incorrect classification data, the citation will be printed on the face of the patent without the classification information. If a U.S. patent application number is listed on a PTO/SB/08 form or its equivalent and the examiner considers the information and initials the form, the application number will be printed on the patent. Applicants may wish to list U.S. patent application numbers on other than a form PTO/SB/08 format to avoid the application numbers of pending applications being published on the patent. If a citation is not printed on the patent but has been considered by the examiner, the patented file will reflect that fact as noted in MPEP § 609.05(b).

MPEP GuidanceInformativeAlways
[mpep-609-06-48bb3fb8e01b0a3063d49a38]
Examiner-Considered Citation Not Printed on Patent
Note:
If a citation is considered by the examiner but not printed on the patent, the file will reflect this as noted in MPEP § 609.05(b).

If the applicant does not provide classification information for a citation, or if the examiner lines through incorrect classification data, the citation will be printed on the face of the patent without the classification information. If a U.S. patent application number is listed on a PTO/SB/08 form or its equivalent and the examiner considers the information and initials the form, the application number will be printed on the patent. Applicants may wish to list U.S. patent application numbers on other than a form PTO/SB/08 format to avoid the application numbers of pending applications being published on the patent. If a citation is not printed on the patent but has been considered by the examiner, the patented file will reflect that fact as noted in MPEP § 609.05(b).

Citations

Primary topicCitation
MPEP § 609.05(b)

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: 2026-01-17