How should the residence of U.S. Armed Services members be stated in patent applications?

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.

For inventors who are members of the U.S. Armed Services, there is a special provision for stating their residence in patent applications. According to MPEP 602.08(a):

“In the case of an inventor who is in one of the U.S. Armed Services, a statement to that effect is sufficient as to residence.”

This provision simplifies the residence requirement for service members, who may have frequently changing or sensitive location information. A simple statement of their Armed Services status fulfills the residence requirement for patent application purposes.