Patent Law FAQ

If an inventor has no middle name, their name should be formatted using only their given name (first name) and family name (last name). The MPEP 602.08(b) provides guidance on this:

If an inventor does not have a middle name or initial, then the field for middle name or initial should be left blank.

It’s important to note that the absence of a middle name should not be confused with the use of initials. If an inventor commonly uses initials in place of their full given name, this should be indicated appropriately on the application.

To learn more:

• inventor name
• no middle name
• name formatting
• patent application