What are the required elements of an international patent application?

According to MPEP 1812, an international patent application must contain the following elements:

• Request
• Description
• Claim or claims
• Abstract
• One or more drawings (where necessary for understanding the invention)

This is based on PCT Article 3(2) and PCT Article 7(2). The MPEP states: “Any international application must contain the following elements: request, description, claim or claims, abstract and one or more drawings (where drawings are necessary for the understanding of the invention)“.

To learn more:

• International Patent Application
• PCT
• Patent Elements
• Patent Cooperation Treaty