1.45 (pre‑AIA) Joint inventors.
[Editor Note:
Not applicable to patent applications filed under
35 U.S.C. 111(a) or
363 on or after September 16, 2012
*]
- (a) Joint inventors must apply for a patent jointly and each must make the required oath or declaration: neither of them alone, nor less than the entire number, can apply for a patent for an invention invented by them jointly, except as provided in § 1.47.
- (b) Inventors may apply for a patent jointly even though
- (1) They did not physically work together or at the same time,
- (2) Each inventor did not make the same type or amount of contribution, or
- (3) Each inventor did not make a contribution to the subject matter of every claim of the application.
- (c) If multiple inventors are named in a nonprovisional application, each named inventor must have made a contribution, individually or jointly, to the subject matter of at least one claim of the application and the application will be considered to be a joint application under 35 U.S.C. 116. If multiple inventors are named in a provisional application, each named inventor must have made a contribution, individually or jointly, to the subject matter disclosed in the provisional application and the provisional application will be considered to be a joint application under 35 U.S.C. 116.
[paras. (b) and (c), 47 FR 41272, Sept. 17, 1982, effective Oct. 1, 1982; 48 FR 2696, Jan. 20, 1983, effective Feb. 27, 1983; 50 FR 9379, Mar. 7, 1985, effective May 8, 1985; para. (c) revised, 60 FR 20195, Apr. 25, 1995, effective June 8, 1995] [
*See §
1.45 for more information and for the rule applicable to patent applications filed under
35 U.S.C. 111(a) or
363 on or after Sept. 16, 2012]