37 CFR § 5.12 — Petition for license. (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 5.12, including 36 rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Summary

The Petition for license provides a procedural mechanism for obtaining approval to file patent applications internationally when no defense-related inspection is required.

What this section covers

Outlines the process for obtaining a license for foreign patent applications that do not require defense agency review.
Describes the eligibility criteria for applications not mandating defense agency inspection.

Key obligations

Ensure compliance with USPTO regulations regarding foreign filing permissions.
Verify that the patent application meets the criteria for unrestricted international filing.

Conditions and exceptions

Understand the specific circumstances that trigger the need for a foreign filing license.

Practice notes

Carefully review application contents to determine defense-related sensitivity before international filing.

Petition for Foreign Filing License RequiredMPEP 1002.02(c)(1)
Application Filing Includes License Petition for US InventionsMPEP 140
Filing Receipt Shows License GrantMPEP 140
Subsequent Petition for License if Initial Automatic Petition is Not GrantedMPEP 140Permitted
Petition for License Must Include Fee, Address, and Delivery InstructionsMPEP 140Required
Petition for License Must Be in Letter FormMPEP 140Recommended
License Petition Requires Material CopyMPEP 140Required
Copy Required for License GrantMPEP 140
Petition for License Must Identify US Application DetailsMPEP 140Required
Disclosure of US Application Required for License PetitionMPEP 140
License for Foreign Applications Not Requiring InspectionMPEP 140Required
License Scope Must Match Specified TermsMPEP 140Required
Change License Scope After Inspection RequirementMPEP 140Required
Change of License Scope Effective DateMPEP 140
Two Ways to Obtain Permission for Foreign FilingsMPEP 140Required
6-Month Wait Period for Foreign FilingMPEP 140
License Granted Within 3 Business Days If No National Security ConcernMPEP 140
Direct License Request Required for FFL PetitionMPEP 140
Contact Number Needed for License DeliveryMPEP 140Recommended
Contact Info Required for Timely License DeliveryMPEP 140
Revocation of Foreign Filing License Upon NotificationMPEP 140Required
Revocation Indicates Need for Defense Agency ReferralMPEP 140
Revocation Does Not Preclude Narrower LicenseMPEP 140
Revocation Takes Effect on Mailing DateMPEP 140
Foreign Filings Before Revocation Not AbandonedMPEP 140Permitted
Documents Needed for Foreign Prosecution Must Comply with Export RegulationsMPEP 140Permitted
Secrecy Order Restrictions Must Be ObservedMPEP 140Required

Petition for License Must Include Fee, Address, and Delivery InstructionsMPEP 140Required
License Petition Requires Material CopyMPEP 140Required
Petition for License Must Identify US Application DetailsMPEP 140Required
License for Foreign Applications Not Requiring InspectionMPEP 140Required
License Scope Must Match Specified TermsMPEP 140Required
Change License Scope After Inspection RequirementMPEP 140Required
Two Ways to Obtain Permission for Foreign FilingsMPEP 140Required
Revocation of Foreign Filing License Upon NotificationMPEP 140Required
Secrecy Order Restrictions Must Be ObservedMPEP 140Required
License Not Required for Initial International Application but May Be Needed for TransmittalMPEP 1832Required
No Foreign Filing License Required for Certain International ApplicationsMPEP 1832Required

Process Foreign Filing License PetitionsMPEP 115
Implicit Petition for Foreign Filing License on U.S. InventionMPEP 140Permitted
Petition for Foreign Filing License When Expedited Handling Is RequestedMPEP 140
Narrow License Can Be Converted to Broad ScopeMPEP 140Permitted
Fee Required for Converting License ScopeMPEP 140
Petition to Convert License Scope Effective DateMPEP 140
License for Foreign Filing Required for Non-PCT FilingsMPEP 1832Recommended

MPEP Section	Rules
MPEP § 1002.02(c)(1)	Petition for Foreign Filing License RequiredMPEP 1002.02(c)(1)
MPEP § 115	Process Foreign Filing License PetitionsMPEP 115
MPEP § 140	Application Filing Includes License Petition for US InventionsMPEP 140 Filing Receipt Shows License GrantMPEP 140 Subsequent Petition for License if Initial Automatic Petition is Not GrantedMPEP 140Permitted Petition for License Must Include Fee, Address, and Delivery InstructionsMPEP 140Required Petition for License Must Be in Letter FormMPEP 140Recommended License Petition Requires Material CopyMPEP 140Required Copy Required for License GrantMPEP 140 Petition for License Must Identify US Application DetailsMPEP 140Required Disclosure of US Application Required for License PetitionMPEP 140 License for Foreign Applications Not Requiring InspectionMPEP 140Required License Scope Must Match Specified TermsMPEP 140Required Change License Scope After Inspection RequirementMPEP 140Required Change of License Scope Effective DateMPEP 140 Two Ways to Obtain Permission for Foreign FilingsMPEP 140Required 6-Month Wait Period for Foreign FilingMPEP 140 Implicit Petition for Foreign Filing License on U.S. InventionMPEP 140Permitted Petition for Foreign Filing License When Expedited Handling Is RequestedMPEP 140 Narrow License Can Be Converted to Broad ScopeMPEP 140Permitted Fee Required for Converting License ScopeMPEP 140 Petition to Convert License Scope Effective DateMPEP 140 License Granted Within 3 Business Days If No National Security ConcernMPEP 140 Direct License Request Required for FFL PetitionMPEP 140 Contact Number Needed for License DeliveryMPEP 140Recommended Contact Info Required for Timely License DeliveryMPEP 140 Revocation of Foreign Filing License Upon NotificationMPEP 140Required Revocation Indicates Need for Defense Agency ReferralMPEP 140 Revocation Does Not Preclude Narrower LicenseMPEP 140 Revocation Takes Effect on Mailing DateMPEP 140 Foreign Filings Before Revocation Not AbandonedMPEP 140Permitted Documents Needed for Foreign Prosecution Must Comply with Export RegulationsMPEP 140Permitted Secrecy Order Restrictions Must Be ObservedMPEP 140Required
MPEP § 1832	License Not Required for Initial International Application but May Be Needed for TransmittalMPEP 1832Required No Foreign Filing License Required for Certain International ApplicationsMPEP 1832Required License for Foreign Filing Required for Non-PCT FilingsMPEP 1832Recommended

Related Provisions

Based on MPEP Last Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22

37 CFR § 5.12 — Petition for license. (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

37 CFR § 5.12 Petition for license.

Summary

Official MPEP § 5.12 — Petition for license.

5.12 Petition for license.

Verbatim in MPEP

Required Actions

Key Interpretations

Topics

MPEP Coverage

Related Provisions