Front matter
0005-change-summary.pdf
Summary of changes introduced in this MPEP revision.
55 pagesPDF
Patent Law & USPTO Documents
Official U.S. patent laws, USPTO rules, and MPEP chapters from MPEP Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024. These are versioned PDF reference documents — not live USPTO pages — so check the official USPTO source for the latest applicable guidance.
Front matter
Title Page
Title page for the Ninth Edition of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure.
2 pagesPDF
Front matter
Foreword
Foreword to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure.
1 pagesPDF
Front matter
Introduction
Introduction to how the MPEP is organized and used during prosecution.
3 pagesPDF
Other chapters
Ch. 100Chapter 100
Rules on secrecy, national security, foreign filing licenses, and access to application materials.
36 pagesPDF
Application practice
Ch. 200Chapter 200
Application types, status, benefit claims, priority, and continuing application practice.
120 pagesPDF
Application practice
Ch. 300Chapter 300
Ownership of patent applications and assignment of rights.
41 pagesPDF
Representation
Ch. 400Chapter 400
Representation of applicants and owners before the USPTO, including practitioner requirements.
61 pagesPDF
Application practice
Ch. 500Chapter 500
Receipt, handling, and timing of mail and papers filed with the USPTO.
138 pagesPDF
Application practice
Ch. 600Chapter 600
Required parts, form, and content of patent applications and related papers.
240 pagesPDF
Examination
Ch. 700Chapter 700
Examination of patent applications, including Office Actions, amendments, interviews, and replies.
312 pagesPDF
Restriction
Ch. 800Chapter 800
Restriction practice, unity of invention, election requirements, and double patenting.
107 pagesPDF
Prior art & search
Ch. 900Chapter 900
Prior art, search, classification, and routing of applications within the USPTO.
57 pagesPDF
Other chapters
Ch. 1000Chapter 1000
Matters decided by various USPTO officials outside ordinary examination.
21 pagesPDF
Application practice
Ch. 1100Chapter 1100
Statutory invention registration, pre-grant publication, and preissuance submissions.
58 pagesPDF
Appeal
Ch. 1200Chapter 1200
Appeal procedures before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
77 pagesPDF
Application practice
Ch. 1300Chapter 1300
Allowance, issue fee payment, and patent grant procedures.
34 pagesPDF
Other chapters
Ch. 1400Chapter 1400
Correction of patents after grant, including certificates of correction.
176 pagesPDF
Specialized patents
Ch. 1500Chapter 1500
Examination of design patent applications.
83 pagesPDF
Specialized patents
Ch. 1600Chapter 1600
Examination of plant patent applications.
14 pagesPDF
Other chapters
Ch. 1700Chapter 1700
Miscellaneous prosecution topics not covered in other MPEP chapters.
12 pagesPDF
PCT / international
Ch. 1800Chapter 1800
Patent Cooperation Treaty practice before the USPTO as a receiving office.
199 pagesPDF
Other chapters
Ch. 1900Chapter 1900
Protest procedures against pending applications.
12 pagesPDF
Duty of disclosure
Ch. 2000Chapter 2000
Duty of disclosure, information disclosure statements, and material prior art obligations.
22 pagesPDF
Patentability
Ch. 2100Chapter 2100
Patentability requirements, including eligibility, novelty, obviousness, and written description.
535 pagesPDF
Reexamination
Ch. 2200Chapter 2200
Citation of prior art and ex parte reexamination of issued patents.
199 pagesPDF
Other chapters
Ch. 2300Chapter 2300
Interference and derivation proceedings.
29 pagesPDF
Specialized patents
Ch. 2400Chapter 2400
Biotechnology examination topics and specialized claiming practice.
118 pagesPDF
Patent terms
Ch. 2500Chapter 2500
Maintenance fee requirements and payment windows for issued patents.
33 pagesPDF
Reexamination
Ch. 2600Chapter 2600
Optional inter partes reexamination procedures.
14 pagesPDF
Patent terms
Ch. 2700Chapter 2700
Patent term adjustments, extensions, and term calculation.
90 pagesPDF
Reexamination
Ch. 2800Chapter 2800
Supplemental examination of issued patents.
65 pagesPDF
PCT / international
Ch. 2900Chapter 2900
International design application practice before the USPTO.
55 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Appendix I
MPEP Appendix I — reference materials included in the manual appendix series.
1 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Appendix II
MPEP Appendix II — supplementary reference material for patent examination practice.
56 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Appendix L
MPEP Appendix L — supplementary reference material for patent examination practice.
101 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Appendix R
MPEP Appendix R — supplementary reference material for patent examination practice.
505 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Appendix T
MPEP Appendix T — supplementary reference material for patent examination practice.
146 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Appendix AI
MPEP Appendix AI — supplementary reference material for patent examination practice.
76 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Appendix P
MPEP Appendix P — supplementary reference material for patent examination practice.
18 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Subject Matter Index
Subject matter index for navigating topics across the MPEP.
106 pagesPDF
Appendices & index
Chapter FPC - Form Paragraphs Consolidated
Consolidated form paragraphs used in Office Actions and prosecution documents.
187 pagesPDF