What makes a good patent application title?

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.

A good patent application title should adhere to the guidelines set forth in MPEP 606. The key characteristics are:

1. Brief: The title should be concise, avoiding unnecessary words.
2. Technically accurate: It should correctly represent the technical aspects of the invention.
3. Descriptive: The title should give a clear idea of what the invention is about.
4. Within character limit: As stated in MPEP 606, “The title… should contain fewer than 500 characters.”

Additionally, a good title should:

• Focus on the key innovative features of the invention
• Avoid unnecessary articles or non-descriptive terms at the beginning
• Be understandable to someone skilled in the relevant field

Remember, the title is often the first thing examiners and other readers see, so it should effectively communicate the essence of your invention.