How does anticipation apply to claims covering multiple structures or compositions?

When a claim covers multiple structures or compositions, anticipation can occur if any one of those structures or compositions is known in the prior art. The MPEP 2131 cites a Federal Circuit case:

When a claim covers several structures or compositions, either generically or as alternatives, the claim is deemed anticipated if any of the structures or compositions within the scope of the claim is known in the prior art. (Brown v. 3M)

This means that for a claim covering multiple options, finding just one of those options in the prior art can be sufficient for an anticipation rejection.

To learn more:

• anticipation
• multiple structures
• alternative compositions
• generic claims