MPEP § 806.04(i) — Generic Claims Presented In a Separate Application After Issuance of Species Claims (Annotated Rules)

§806.04(i) Generic Claims Presented In a Separate Application After Issuance of Species Claims

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

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 806.04(i), 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.

Generic Claims Presented In a Separate Application After Issuance of Species Claims

This section addresses Generic Claims Presented In a Separate Application After Issuance of Species Claims. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 102(c) and 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(2). Contains: 2 permissions and 1 other statement.

Key Rules

Topic

Assignee as Applicant Signature

2 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-806-04-i-a43bf224b119ce7280168a7c]
Terminal Disclaimer for Nonstatutory Double Patenting
Note:
Applicant must file a terminal disclaimer to overcome a rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting.

If a generic claim is presented in a separate application after the issuance of a patent claiming one or more species within the scope of the generic claim, the Office may reject the generic claim on the grounds of nonstatutory double patenting when the patent and application have at least one common (joint) inventor and/or are either (1) commonly assigned/owned or (2) non-commonly assigned/owned but subject to a joint research agreement as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 102(c) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(2) and (3). See MPEP § 804. Applicant may overcome such a rejection by filing a terminal disclaimer. See In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 1053, 29 USPQ2d 2010, 2016 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Braithwaite, 379 F.2d 594, 154 USPQ 29 (CCPA 1967).

Jump to MPEP SourceAssignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIAJoint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-806-04-i-6a0bbeb661169a26c53c64a9]
Nonstatutory Double Patenting for Generic Claims After Issuance
Note:
This rule requires that a generic claim in a separate application be rejected if it overlaps with issued species claims, especially when the inventors are common and the applications are either commonly assigned or subject to a joint research agreement.

If a generic claim is presented in a separate application after the issuance of a patent claiming one or more species within the scope of the generic claim, the Office may reject the generic claim on the grounds of nonstatutory double patenting when the patent and application have at least one common (joint) inventor and/or are either (1) commonly assigned/owned or (2) non-commonly assigned/owned but subject to a joint research agreement as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 102(c) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(2) and (3). See MPEP § 804. Applicant may overcome such a rejection by filing a terminal disclaimer. See In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 1053, 29 USPQ2d 2010, 2016 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Braithwaite, 379 F.2d 594, 154 USPQ 29 (CCPA 1967).

Jump to MPEP SourceAssignee as Applicant SignatureApplicant and Assignee Filing Under AIAJoint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)
Topic

Joint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)

1 rules
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-806-04-i-10fdf5c86b7d32f229bf0659]
Nonstatutory Double Patenting for Common Inventors and Assignees
Note:
The Office may reject a generic claim in a separate application if it overlaps with issued species claims, especially when shared inventors or assignees are involved.

If a generic claim is presented in a separate application after the issuance of a patent claiming one or more species within the scope of the generic claim, the Office may reject the generic claim on the grounds of nonstatutory double patenting when the patent and application have at least one common (joint) inventor and/or are either (1) commonly assigned/owned or (2) non-commonly assigned/owned but subject to a joint research agreement as set forth in 35 U.S.C. 102(c) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(c)(2) and (3). See MPEP § 804. Applicant may overcome such a rejection by filing a terminal disclaimer. See In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 1053, 29 USPQ2d 2010, 2016 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Braithwaite, 379 F.2d 594, 154 USPQ 29 (CCPA 1967).

Jump to MPEP SourceJoint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)Obviousness Under AIA (MPEP 2158)Obviousness Under Pre-AIA (MPEP 2141-2146)

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Joint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)
35 U.S.C. § 102(c)
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Joint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)
35 U.S.C. § 103(c)(2)
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Joint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)
MPEP § 804
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Joint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)
In re Braithwaite, 379 F.2d 594, 154 USPQ 29 (CCPA 1967)
Assignee as Applicant Signature
Joint Research Agreements (MPEP 2156)
In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 1053, 29 USPQ2d 2010, 2016 (Fed. Cir. 1993)

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