What is a ‘regular utility application’ in patent law?

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.

What is a ‘regular utility application’ in patent law?

A ‘regular utility application’ is a term used in patent law to describe a standard non-provisional patent application for a utility invention. According to MPEP 201.02, it is defined as follows:

“A ‘regular utility application’ is a non-provisional application for a utility patent filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a).”

This type of application is the most common form of patent application filed with the USPTO. It requires a detailed description of the invention, claims defining the scope of protection sought, and often includes drawings to illustrate the invention. Regular utility applications undergo a thorough examination process to determine if they meet the requirements for patentability.

For more information on 35 U.S.C. 111(a), visit: 35 U.S.C. 111(a).

For more information on Non-provisional application, visit: Non-provisional application.