Do plant patent applications require duplicate drawings?

Source: FAQ (MPEP-Based)BlueIron Update: 2024-09-27

This page is an FAQ based on guidance 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.

Yes, plant patent applications require duplicate drawings. According to 37 CFR 1.163(b), one of the elements that should appear in a plant patent application is:

(5) Drawings (in duplicate).

This requirement for duplicate drawings is specific to plant patent applications and differs from utility patent applications. The duplicate drawings help ensure that the unique characteristics of the plant variety are clearly and accurately represented, which is crucial for the examination process and for providing a complete disclosure of the claimed plant.

For more detailed information on drawings in plant patent applications, refer to MPEP § 1606.

Tags: duplicate drawings, patent drawings, Plant Patent, USPTO requirements