PCT Rule 8 — The Abstract (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting PCT Rule 8, including 49 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 Abstract must adhere to specific content and form requirements set forth in PCT Rule 8, summarizing the disclosure concisely while meeting legal standards.

What this section covers

Defines the content and form requirements for abstracts in a PCT application.

Key obligations

Practitioners must adhere to the content and form requirements set forth in PCT Rule 8 for the abstract.
The abstract must be concise and informative, summarizing the invention without unnecessary detail or redundancy.
Compliance with PCT Rule 8 is necessary to ensure the abstract meets legal and procedural requirements for a PCT application.

Practice notes

Draft the abstract to be clear and concise, avoiding unnecessary technical details that may not be relevant to all readers.
Avoid including too much detail in the abstract, which can make it overly complex and less useful for those who need to quickly understand the invention.

Abstract Must Be Technical and Not Scope DeterminingMPEP 1844.01Prohibited
Abstract Must Assist Technical SearchMPEP 1844.01Recommended
Abstract Must Comply with WIPO ST.12/AMPEP 1844.01
Abstract Must Adhere to PCT Rule 8MPEP 1826Required
Abstract Must Be Established by International Searching AuthorityMPEP 1844.01Required
Additional Mandatory Contents for International Design ApplicationsMPEP 2909Required

Abstract Must Summarize Disclosure and ClaimsMPEP 1826Required
Abstract Must Summarize DisclosureMPEP 1826Required
Abstract Must Follow Claims on New SheetMPEP 1826Required
Other Physical Requirements Must Match DescriptionMPEP 1826Required
Abstract Must Serve as Scanning Tool for ArtMPEP 1826Required
Notification of Deficiencies for International Design ApplicationsMPEP 2907Required
Requirement for Creator's Oath or Declaration in International Design ApplicationMPEP 2909Required
Certify Evidentiary Support for Factual ContentionsMPEP 410Required
Amendments Not Required for Lack of EvidenceMPEP 410Required
Contendings Identified as Information and Belief Require Reasonable InvestigationMPEP 410Required
Abstract Must Adhere to PCT Rule 8MPEP 1826Required
Abstract Must Be Established by International Searching AuthorityMPEP 1844.01Required
Claim Must Describe Ornamental Design as ShownMPEP 2903Required
Additional Mandatory Contents for International Design ApplicationsMPEP 2909Required

Maximum of 150 Words for AbstractMPEP 1826
Abstract Must Be Concise Within PCT LimitsMPEP 1826
PCT Abstract Should Not Exceed A4 SheetMPEP 1826Recommended
Guidelines for Abstracts Under PCTMPEP 1826Permitted
Abstract Must Be Obtained from International BureauMPEP 1826Permitted
Oath or Declaration Required for Contracting Party DesignationMPEP 2907
Requirement for Inventor’s Declaration in International Design ApplicationMPEP 2909
Inventor Identification Before International RegistrationMPEP 2909
Inventor’s Oath or Declaration Required for U.S. DesignationMPEP 2909
Inventor’s Oath or Declaration Required for U.S. DesignationMPEP 2909
Declaration of Inventorship Required for U.S. Design ApplicationsMPEP 2909
Certification of Pleadings Before FilingMPEP 410
Litigant Must Investigate Before FilingMPEP 410Permitted
Investigate Before Asserting Factual ContentionsMPEP 410
Certification of Evidentiary Basis for Factual ContentionsMPEP 410
Summary Judgment Does Not Invalidate Positional SupportMPEP 410
Defects in Design Application Must Be RemediedMPEP 2907
Deficiency Notification for Design ApplicationsMPEP 2907
Inventor’s Oath or Declaration Required for International Design ApplicationMPEP 2909
Litigants Must Certify Evidentiary Support for ContentionsMPEP 410
Litigants Must Withdraw Tenable Contentions After Learning They Are FalseMPEP 410
Obligation to Reaffirm Pleadings After Learning They Cease to Have MeritMPEP 410Permitted
Obligation to Certify Contentions After Pretrial ConferenceMPEP 410Recommended
Certifying Federal Court Allocations After RemovalMPEP 410
Certification for Non-Availability of EvidenceMPEP 410
Evidentiary Support for ContentionsMPEP 410
Denials of Factual Contentions Require Different ConsiderationsMPEP 410
Denial Based on Contradictory Evidence Must Be SupportedMPEP 410
Permissible Denial After InvestigationMPEP 410
Equal Burden on Plaintiffs and Defendants Under Rule 11(b)MPEP 410
Defendant Must Withdraw Unwarranted Denials After Further InvestigationMPEP 410Recommended
Nonfrivolous Arguments for Law Changes Not Violating Rule 11(b)(2)MPEP 410Recommended

MPEP Section	Rules
MPEP § 1826	Abstract Must Summarize Disclosure and ClaimsMPEP 1826Required Abstract Must Summarize DisclosureMPEP 1826Required Maximum of 150 Words for AbstractMPEP 1826 Abstract Must Be Concise Within PCT LimitsMPEP 1826 PCT Abstract Should Not Exceed A4 SheetMPEP 1826Recommended Abstract Must Follow Claims on New SheetMPEP 1826Required Other Physical Requirements Must Match DescriptionMPEP 1826Required Abstract Must Serve as Scanning Tool for ArtMPEP 1826Required Guidelines for Abstracts Under PCTMPEP 1826Permitted Abstract Must Be Obtained from International BureauMPEP 1826Permitted Abstract Must Adhere to PCT Rule 8MPEP 1826Required
MPEP § 1844.01	Abstract Must Be Technical and Not Scope DeterminingMPEP 1844.01Prohibited Abstract Must Assist Technical SearchMPEP 1844.01Recommended Abstract Must Comply with WIPO ST.12/AMPEP 1844.01 Abstract Must Be Established by International Searching AuthorityMPEP 1844.01Required
MPEP § 2903	Claim Must Describe Ornamental Design as ShownMPEP 2903Required
MPEP § 2907	Notification of Deficiencies for International Design ApplicationsMPEP 2907Required Oath or Declaration Required for Contracting Party DesignationMPEP 2907 Defects in Design Application Must Be RemediedMPEP 2907 Deficiency Notification for Design ApplicationsMPEP 2907
MPEP § 2909	Requirement for Creator's Oath or Declaration in International Design ApplicationMPEP 2909Required Requirement for Inventor’s Declaration in International Design ApplicationMPEP 2909 Inventor Identification Before International RegistrationMPEP 2909 Inventor’s Oath or Declaration Required for U.S. DesignationMPEP 2909 Inventor’s Oath or Declaration Required for U.S. DesignationMPEP 2909 Declaration of Inventorship Required for U.S. Design ApplicationsMPEP 2909 Inventor’s Oath or Declaration Required for International Design ApplicationMPEP 2909 Additional Mandatory Contents for International Design ApplicationsMPEP 2909Required
MPEP § 410	Certification of Pleadings Before FilingMPEP 410 Litigant Must Investigate Before FilingMPEP 410Permitted Investigate Before Asserting Factual ContentionsMPEP 410 Certification of Evidentiary Basis for Factual ContentionsMPEP 410 Summary Judgment Does Not Invalidate Positional SupportMPEP 410 Litigants Must Certify Evidentiary Support for ContentionsMPEP 410 Litigants Must Withdraw Tenable Contentions After Learning They Are FalseMPEP 410 Obligation to Reaffirm Pleadings After Learning They Cease to Have MeritMPEP 410Permitted Obligation to Certify Contentions After Pretrial ConferenceMPEP 410Recommended Certifying Federal Court Allocations After RemovalMPEP 410 Certification for Non-Availability of EvidenceMPEP 410 Evidentiary Support for ContentionsMPEP 410 Denials of Factual Contentions Require Different ConsiderationsMPEP 410 Denial Based on Contradictory Evidence Must Be SupportedMPEP 410 Permissible Denial After InvestigationMPEP 410 Certify Evidentiary Support for Factual ContentionsMPEP 410Required Equal Burden on Plaintiffs and Defendants Under Rule 11(b)MPEP 410 Defendant Must Withdraw Unwarranted Denials After Further InvestigationMPEP 410Recommended Amendments Not Required for Lack of EvidenceMPEP 410Required Nonfrivolous Arguments for Law Changes Not Violating Rule 11(b)(2)MPEP 410Recommended Contendings Identified as Information and Belief Require Reasonable InvestigationMPEP 410Required

Related Provisions

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

PCT Rule 8 — The Abstract (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

PCT Rule 8 The Abstract

Summary

Official MPEP § 8 — The Abstract

Rule 8 The Abstract

8.1 Contents and Form of the Abstract

8.2 Figure

8.3 Guiding Principles in Drafting

Verbatim in MPEP

Required Actions

Key Interpretations

Topics

MPEP Coverage

Related Provisions