What is the purpose of the enablement requirement in patent law?

The enablement requirement in patent law serves to ensure that the invention is sufficiently described to allow the public to make and use it. As explained in MPEP 2165.02:

“The enablement requirement looks to placing the subject matter of the claims generally in the possession of the public.”

This means that the patent application must provide enough information for a person skilled in the relevant field to understand and reproduce the invention without undue experimentation. The enablement requirement is crucial for fulfilling the patent system’s goal of promoting the progress of science and useful arts by ensuring that inventions are fully disclosed in exchange for patent protection.

To learn more:

• enablement requirement
• patent disclosure
• public possession
• patent law
• invention description