MPEP § 717.01(a) — Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a) – Attribution (Annotated Rules)

§717.01(a) Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a) – Attribution

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 717.01(a), 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.

Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a) – Attribution

This section addresses Declarations or Affidavits under 37 CFR 1.130(a) – Attribution. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)), 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A), and 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1). Contains: 1 prohibition, 1 permission, and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)

2 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-717-01-a-c1c097d06e08d738f95df73e]
Affidavit to Disqualify Prior Art Disclosure
Note:
When a claim is rejected, the applicant can submit an affidavit showing the disclosure was made by the inventor or obtained from them.

37 CFR 1.130(a) provides that when any claim of an application or a patent under reexamination is rejected, the applicant or patent owner may submit an appropriate affidavit or declaration to disqualify a disclosure as prior art by establishing that the disclosure was made by the inventor or a joint inventor, or the subject matter disclosed was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor. 37 CFR 1.130(a) pertains to the provisions of subparagraph (A) of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)) and 102(b)(2). 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure made one year or less before the effective filing date of a claimed invention shall not be prior art to the claimed invention under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) if the disclosure was made by the inventor or joint inventor or by another who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor, and 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A) provides that a disclosure shall not be prior art to a claimed invention under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) if the subject matter disclosed was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.130(a)Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)Prior Art Under 102(a)(1) (MPEP 2152.02)Novelty / Prior Art
StatutoryProhibitedAlways
[mpep-717-01-a-5a77f130a0cb9489a60b3261]
Disclosure Made by Inventor Not Prior Art
Note:
A disclosure made within one year before the effective filing date and obtained from the inventor is not considered prior art if it was made by the inventor or a joint inventor.

37 CFR 1.130(a) provides that when any claim of an application or a patent under reexamination is rejected, the applicant or patent owner may submit an appropriate affidavit or declaration to disqualify a disclosure as prior art by establishing that the disclosure was made by the inventor or a joint inventor, or the subject matter disclosed was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor. 37 CFR 1.130(a) pertains to the provisions of subparagraph (A) of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)) and 102(b)(2). 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure made one year or less before the effective filing date of a claimed invention shall not be prior art to the claimed invention under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) if the disclosure was made by the inventor or joint inventor or by another who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor, and 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A) provides that a disclosure shall not be prior art to a claimed invention under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) if the subject matter disclosed was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.130(a)Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)Prior Art Under 102(a)(1) (MPEP 2152.02)Novelty / Prior Art
Topic

AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-717-01-a-f6ac9295eccdf500ea3282ee]
First Inventor to File Provision
Note:
This rule applies to applications subject to the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA, as opposed to pre-AIA practices.

[Editor Note: This MPEP section is only applicable to applications subject to the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. See 35 U.S.C. 100 (note) and MPEP § 2159. For applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103, see MPEP § 716.10 for affidavits or declarations of attribution under 37 CFR 1.132.]

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.132AIA vs Pre-AIA PracticeObviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)Obviousness Under Pre-AIA (MPEP 2141-2146)
Topic

Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-717-01-a-88a1e3f6585fb21e40cf65ab]
Affidavits or Declarations Required for Pre-AIA Applications
Note:
For pre-AIA applications, affidavits or declarations of attribution under 37 CFR 1.132 must be submitted as required.

[Editor Note: This MPEP section is only applicable to applications subject to the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. See 35 U.S.C. 100 (note) and MPEP § 2159. For applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103, see MPEP § 716.10 for affidavits or declarations of attribution under 37 CFR 1.132.]

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.132Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)Obviousness Under Pre-AIA (MPEP 2141-2146)AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Topic

35 U.S.C. 102 – Novelty / Prior Art

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-717-01-a-a66fe49f61d713a878f10726]
Disclosure Made by Inventor Not Prior Art
Note:
Applicants may submit affidavits to disqualify disclosures as prior art if made by the inventor or a joint inventor.

37 CFR 1.130(a) provides that when any claim of an application or a patent under reexamination is rejected, the applicant or patent owner may submit an appropriate affidavit or declaration to disqualify a disclosure as prior art by establishing that the disclosure was made by the inventor or a joint inventor, or the subject matter disclosed was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor. 37 CFR 1.130(a) pertains to the provisions of subparagraph (A) of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)) and 102(b)(2). 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1)(A) provides that a disclosure made one year or less before the effective filing date of a claimed invention shall not be prior art to the claimed invention under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) if the disclosure was made by the inventor or joint inventor or by another who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor, and 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(A) provides that a disclosure shall not be prior art to a claimed invention under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) if the subject matter disclosed was obtained directly or indirectly from the inventor or a joint inventor.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.130(a)Novelty / Prior ArtEffective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)Prior Art Under 102(a)(1) (MPEP 2152.02)

Citations

Primary topicCitation
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)
35 U.S.C. § 100
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)
35 U.S.C. § 102
35 U.S.C. 102 – Novelty / Prior Art
Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)
35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1)
35 U.S.C. 102 – Novelty / Prior Art
Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)
35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(2)
35 U.S.C. 102 – Novelty / Prior Art
Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)
35 U.S.C. § 102(b)(1)
35 U.S.C. 102 – Novelty / Prior Art
Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)
35 U.S.C. § 102(b)(1)(A)
35 U.S.C. 102 – Novelty / Prior Art
Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)
35 U.S.C. § 102(b)(2)(A)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)
35 U.S.C. § 103
35 U.S.C. 102 – Novelty / Prior Art
Effective Filing Date Under 102 (MPEP 2152.01)
37 CFR § 1.130(a)
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)
37 CFR § 1.132
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)
MPEP § 2159
AIA vs Pre-AIA Practice
Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)
MPEP § 716.10

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