601.05(a) Application Data Sheet (ADS) — Application Filed On or After September 16, 2012 [R-10.2019]

[Editor Note: See MPEP § 601.05(b) for a discussion of the requirements of an ADS for applications filed before September 16, 2012. 37 CFR 1.76(b)(3), directed to reference filing under 37 CFR 1.57(a), is applicable only to patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111 on or after December 18, 2013. For 37 CFR 1.76(b)(3) applicable to applications filed on or after September 16, 2012 and before December 18, 2013, see 37 CFR 1.76 (2012-09-16 thru 2013-12-17); for applications filed prior to September 16, 2012, see pre-AIA 37 CFR 1.76 as reproduced in MPEP § 601.05(b).]

37 CFR 1.76(a) provides that an application data sheet may be submitted in a provisional application under 35 U.S.C. 111(b), a nonprovisional application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a), a nonprovisional international design application, or a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371. However, 37 CFR 1.76(a) also provides that an application data sheet must be submitted when required by 37 CFR 1.55 and 1.78 to claim priority to, or the benefit of, a prior-filed application under 35 U.S.C. 119, 120, 121, 365, or 386 in accordance with 37 CFR 1.55 and 1.78. An application data sheet must also be submitted in accordance with 37 CFR 1.46 when an application is filed by an assignee, a person to whom the inventor is under an obligation to assign the invention, or a person who otherwise shows a sufficient proprietary interest in the matter under 35 U.S.C. 118.

I. BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

37 CFR 1.76(a) requires that any ADS contain the seven headings listed in 37 CFR 1.76(b) with any appropriate data for each section heading (except as provided in 37 CFR 1.76(c)(2) for an ADS providing corrected or updated information). The ADS must be titled “Application Data Sheet” and any heading that does not contain any corresponding data will be interpreted by the Office to mean that there is no corresponding data for that heading anywhere in the application. Bibliographic data under 37 CFR 1.76(b) includes: (1) inventor information; (2) correspondence information; (3) application information; (4) representative information; (5) domestic benefit information; (6) foreign priority information; and (7) applicant information.

Inventor information includes the legal name, residence, and mailing address of each inventor (37 CFR 1.41(b)). Whether or not the inventor is the applicant, the Office will to continue to use the inventor’s name for application and patent identification purposes. Inventor names tend to provide a more distinct identification than assignee name, for example. The “mailing address” is the address where the inventor customarily receives mail.

Correspondence information includes the correspondence address, which may be indicated by reference to a customer number, to which correspondence is to be directed (see 37 CFR 1.33(a)).

As set forth in 37 CFR 1.76(b)(3), application information includes the title of the invention, the total number of drawing sheets, a suggested drawing figure for publication (in a nonprovisional application), any docket number assigned to the application, and the type of application (e.g., utility, plant, design, reissue, provisional). Note that the Office is not bound to print the suggested drawing figure, as the Office may decide to print another figure on the front page of any patent application publication or patent issuing from the application.

Application information includes whether the application discloses any significant part of the subject matter of an application under a secrecy order pursuant to 37 CFR 5.2(c). 37 CFR 1.76(b)(3) also requests that the plant patent applicant state the Latin name and the variety denomination for the plant claimed. The Latin name of the genus and species and the variety denomination of the claimed plant are usually included in the specification of the plant patent application, and will be included in any plant patent or plant patent application publication if included in an application data sheet or patent application. The Office, pursuant to the “International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants” (generally known by its French acronym as the UPOV convention), has been asked to compile a database of the plants patented and the database must include the Latin name and the variety denomination of each patented plant. Having this information in an ADS will make the process of compiling this database more efficient.

For applications filed on or after December 18, 2013, when information concerning the previously filed application is required under 37 CFR 1.57(a), application information also includes the reference to the previously filed application, indicating that the specification and any drawings of the application are replaced by the reference to the previously filed application, and specifying the previously filed application by application number, filing date, and the intellectual property authority or country in which the previously filed application was filed. Effective December 18, 2013, 37 CFR 1.57 and 37 CFR 1.76(b)(3) were amended to implement the reference filing provisions of 35 U.S.C. 111(c). 37 CFR 1.57(a) now provides that, subject to the conditions and requirements of 37 CFR 1.57(a), a reference to a previously filed application, made in the English language in an ADS in accordance with 37 CFR 1.76 upon the filing of an application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) indicating that the specification and any drawings of the application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) are replaced by the reference to the previously filed application, shall constitute the specification and any drawings of the application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) for purposes of a filing date under 37 CFR 1.53(b). Thus, applicants filing by reference under 35 U.S.C. 111(c) and 37 CFR 1.57 should take care to ensure that the application number, filing date, and intellectual property authority or country of the previously filed application are accurately specified on the ADS as the specification and drawings of the application specified on the ADS is the specification and drawings of the application being filed by reference under 35 U.S.C. 111(c) and 37 CFR 1.57. See MPEP § 601.01(a), subsection III, for more information on reference filing. The reference to a previously filed application in an ADS under 37 CFR 1.57(a) is not sufficient to establish a priority or benefit claim to that previously filed application. Applicants must still provide priority and/or benefit information under the domestic benefit information heading or foreign priority information heading, as appropriate, in the application data sheet even if utilizing the reference filing provisions of 35 U.S.C. 111(c) and 37 CFR 1.57(a).

Representative information includes the registration number of each practitioner appointed with a power of attorney in the application (preferably by reference to a customer number). 37 CFR 1.76(b)(4) states that providing this information in the application data sheet does not constitute a power of attorney in the application (see 37 CFR 1.32). This is because the Office does not expect the application data sheet to be executed by the party (applicant or assignee) who may appoint a power of attorney in the application.

Domestic benefit information includes the application number (series code and serial number), the filing date, the status (including patent number if available), and relationship of each application for which a benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. 119(e), 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c). The application data sheet, if provided, is considered part of the application. 37 CFR 1.76(b)(5) states that providing this information in the application data sheet constitutes the specific reference required by 35 U.S.C. 119(e) or 120, and 37 CFR 1.78. A specific reference to the earlier application(s) is no longer required to be made in the specification, such as in the first sentence(s) thereof. The continuity data for the patent front page will be taken from the application data sheet. No continuity data will be included in the first sentence(s) of the specification, unless applicant separately provides it there. 37 CFR 1.76(b)(5) does not apply to provisional applications.

Foreign priority information includes the application number, country (or intellectual property authority), and filing date of each foreign application for which priority is claimed. 37 CFR 1.76(b)(6) states that providing this information in the application data sheet constitutes the claim for priority as required by 35 U.S.C. 119(b) and 37 CFR 1.55. 37 CFR 1.76(b)(6) does not apply to provisional applications.

37 CFR 1.76(b)(7) provides that applicant information includes the name (either natural person or juristic entity) and address of the applicant under 37 CFR 1.43 or 1.46. Thus, 37 CFR 1.76(b)(7) provides for the situation in which the applicant is a person other than the inventor under 37 CFR 1.43 (legal representative) or 37 CFR 1.46 (assignee, person to whom the inventor is under an obligation to assign the invention, or person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter). This heading should be left blank if the applicant is the inventor or is the remaining joint inventor or inventors (37 CFR 1.45).

37 CFR 1.46(b) provides that if an application is filed by the assignee, a person to whom the inventor is under an obligation to assign the invention, or a person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter, the application must contain an application data sheet under 37 CFR 1.76 specifying the assignee, person to whom the inventor is under an obligation to assign the invention, or person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter in the applicant information section. 37 CFR 1.46(b) also requires if an application entering the national stage under 35 U.S.C. 371, or a nonprovisional international design application, is applied for by a person other than the inventor under 37 CFR 1.46(a), the assignee, person to whom the inventor is under an obligation to assign the invention, or person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter must have been identified as the applicant for the United States in the international stage of the international application or as the applicant in the publication of the international registration under Hague Agreement Article 10(3). 37 CFR 1.46(c)(1) provides that any request to correct or update the name of the applicant must include an application data sheet under 37 CFR 1.76 specifying the corrected or updated name of the applicant in the applicant information section in accordance with 37 CFR 1.76(c)(2). 37 CFR 1.46(c)(1) also provides that a change in the name of the applicant recorded pursuant to Hague Agreement Article 16(1)(ii) will be effective to change the name of the applicant in a nonprovisional international design application. 37 CFR 1.46(c)(2) provides that any request to change the applicant must include an application data sheet under 37 CFR 1.76 specifying the applicant in the applicant information section and comply with 37 CFR 3.71 and 3.73. The application data sheet must comply with the provisions for correcting and updating an application data sheet set forth in 37 CFR 1.76(c). 37 CFR 1.76(b)(7) explains that providing assignment information in the application data sheet does not substitute for compliance with any requirement of 37 CFR part 3 to have an assignment recorded by the Office. Assignment information must be recorded to have legal effect.

II. CORRECTING AND UPDATING AN ADS OR INFORMATION OTHERWISE OF RECORD

37 CFR 1.76(c) provides the procedure for correcting and updating not only an application data sheet (ADS), but also information otherwise of record (e.g., information provided on the most recent filing receipt). Any ADS filed after the filing date of the application is considered a corrected (or updated) ADS even if an ADS was not previously submitted. Such a corrected ADS must identify the information that is being changed with underlining for insertions and strike-through or brackets for text removed, except that identification of information being changed is not required for an ADS included with an initial submission under 35 U.S.C. 371. In general, the identification of the information being changed should be made relative to the most recent filing receipt. If appropriate, use of the corrected Web-based ADS is recommended because it will pre-populate with information of record. Accordingly, applicants can type in the desired changes in the corrected Web-based ADS, and the system will create a PDF version with the appropriate strike-through and underlining. A corrected Web-based ADS, however, is not permitted in international applications, national stage applications under 35 U.S.C. 371, provisional applications, plant applications, reexamination proceedings, and supplemental examinations under 35 U.S.C. 257. For more information, see the “Quick Start Guide for Corrected Web-based Application Data Sheet (Corrected Web ADS)” available at https://www.uspto.gov/ patents-application-process/ applying-online/efs-web-guidance-and-resources.

A corrected ADS may be submitted until payment of the issue fee to either correct or update information in a previously submitted application data sheet, or in an inventor’s oath or declaration under 37 CFR 1.63, 1.64 , or 1.67, or otherwise of record. See 37 CFR 1.76(c)(1). Note, however, a corrected ADS filed after final rejection or allowance is not entered as a matter of right. See 37 CFR 1.116 or 1.312, respectively. For a discussion of amendments and other replies after final rejection or action, see MPEP § 714.12 and § 714.13. For a discussion of amendments filed after notice of allowance, see MPEP § 714.16. In addition, inventorship changes must comply with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.48, foreign priority and domestic benefit information changes must comply with 37 CFR 1.55 and 1.78, and correspondence address changes must comply with 37 CFR 1.33(a). Note also that any request to correct or update the name of the applicant, or change the applicant, must comply with 37 CFR 1.46(c).

A corrected ADS may include all of the section headings listed in 37 CFR 1.76(b) with all appropriate data for each heading or only those sections (including the section headings) containing changed or updated information. See 37 CFR 1.76(c)(2).

A corrected ADS should be filed with a request for a corrected filing receipt unless accompanied by a request to take some other action, such as a request under 37 CFR 1.48, a request under 37 CFR 1.46(c), or the submission of a power of attorney. A corrected ADS accompanying a request to change the applicant under 37 CFR 1.46(c) must show the changes in applicant information relative to the applicant information on the most recent filing receipt, even if an ADS was not previously filed or an applicant was not previously identified in an ADS because the filing receipt identifies the applicant information of record. If no applicant was identified in the applicant information section of a properly signed ADS filed with the application, a corrected ADS identifying a new applicant with underlining does not need to show the deletion of the inventor-applicant(s) with strikethrough. A corrected ADS submitted to correct information provided in the inventor’s oath or declaration, such as residence information for an inventor, must show the original incorrect information with strike-through or brackets, and the new information with underlining, as if the incorrect information was submitted in an ADS filed with the application even though an ADS was not previously filed. If there are multiple inventors, all of the inventors must be listed in the “Inventor Information” section of the corrected ADS, even if the residence information is only being changed for one of the inventors.

If submitted during the time period for making a benefit or priority claim set forth in 37 CFR 1.78 or 1.55, a request for corrected filing receipt should be filed with a corrected ADS to correct domestic benefit or foreign priority claim information. A petition for an unintentionally delayed claim under 37 CFR 1.78(c) or(e) or 37 CFR 1.55(e) may be required if the domestic benefit or foreign priority claim is being submitted outside the time period for making a benefit or priority claim. Where the most recent filing receipt does not include a benefit claim or priority claim, either because a previously submitted ADS failed to comply with 37 CFR 1.78 or 1.55 or the claim was not previously included in an ADS, a corrected ADS submitted to add the benefit or priority claim must identify the addition of the benefit claim or priority claim with underlining relative to the most recent filing receipt (i.e., the entire benefit or priority claim must be underlined). For example, if an ADS included a benefit claim but the relationship between the instant application and the parent application was not provided, and the most recent filing receipt for the application shows no benefit claim, the entire benefit claim must be shown with underlining in the corrected ADS. In addition, if the ADS identified an incorrect benefit claim (e.g., “division of” instead of “continuation of”) and the most recent filing receipt included the incorrect benefit claim, the corrected ADS should identify the information being deleted (e.g., “division of”) with strike-through or brackets, and should identify the information being added (e.g., “continuation of”) with underlining. In the rare circumstance where a domestic benefit or a priority claim is being deleted, applicant must provide a corrected ADS identifying the deletion of the foreign priority claim with strike-through or brackets. Before deleting a domestic benefit claim or a foreign priority claim, applicant should consider the status of the application since an amendment or ADS filed after final rejection or allowance is not entered as a matter of right and must be filed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.116 or 1.312, respectively. Applicants are cautioned that new prior art may be available as a result of deleting the claim. Also, deleting a benefit or priority claim may be considered a showing that the applicant is intentionally waiving the benefit claim or priority claim to the prior application in the instant application. See MPEP § 211.02(a), subsection III.

III. TREATMENT OF INCONSISTENT INFORMATION

Resolution of inconsistent information supplied by both an application data sheet and other documents (e.g., the oath or declaration under 37 CFR 1.63, 1.64 , or 1.67) are addressed in 37 CFR 1.76(d).

37 CFR 1.76(d)(1) provides that the most recent submission will govern (control) with respect to inconsistencies as between the information provided in an application data sheet, a designation of a correspondence address, or by the inventor’s oath or declaration, except that: (1) the most recent application data sheet will govern with respect to foreign priority (37 CFR 1.55) or domestic benefit (37 CFR 1.78) claims; and (2) the naming of the inventorship is governed by 37 CFR 1.41 and changes to inventorship or the names of the inventors is governed by 37 CFR 1.48.

37 CFR 1.76(d)(2) provides that the information in the application data sheet will govern when the inconsistent information is supplied at the same time by a designation of correspondence address or the inventor’s oath or declaration. The information in the application data sheet will also govern when inconsistent with the information supplied at any time in a Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form, Patent Law Treaty Model International Request Form, Patent Law Treaty Model International Request for Recordation of Change in Name or Address Form, or Patent Law Treaty Model International Request for Recordation of Change in Applicant or Owner Form.

If an ADS is inconsistent with the information provided in another document that was submitted at the same time or prior to the ADS submission, the ADS will control. This is because the application data sheet is intended to be the means by which applicant provides complete bibliographic information. In the small number of instances where another document has more accurate information than a concurrently supplied application data sheet (37 CFR 1.76(d)(2)), a corrected application data sheet should be submitted to conform the information in the ADS to the correct information as provided in the other document(s).

37 CFR 1.76(d)(3) provides that the Office will capture bibliographic information from the application data sheet. 37 CFR 1.76(d)(3) further provides that the Office will generally not review the inventor’s oath or declaration to determine if the bibliographic information contained therein is consistent with the bibliographic information provided in an application data sheet. 37 CFR 1.76(d)(3) further provides that incorrect bibliographic information contained in an application data sheet may be corrected as provided in 37 CFR 1.76(c)(1).

If an application is filed with an application data sheet improperly identifying inventors A, B and C and an executed 37 CFR 1.63 declaration correctly setting forth the inventorship as A and B, the Office will capture the inventorship as inventors A, B and C based on the information in the application data sheet, and include that information in the filing receipt. To correct the inventorship, applicant must submit a request to correct the inventorship pursuant to 37 CFR 1.48. See MPEP § 602.01(c)et seq.

If an application is filed with an application data sheet, the Office will capture the applicant information as identified in the application data sheet. To change the name of the applicant, a request in accordance with 37 CFR 1.46(c), and in compliance with 37 CFR 3.71 and 3.73, is required. See MPEP § 605.01, subsection II.

IV. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The application data sheet form PTO/AIA/14 provides a section where applicants can make a request not to publish the application or a request for early publication.

The application data sheet form PTO/AIA/14 provides a section where applicants can provide an Authorization to Permit Access to the Instant Application by Participating Offices. If the box in this section of the form is checked, the Office has the authority to provide access to the instant patent application to the participating offices in which a foreign application claiming priority to the instant patent application is filed.

The application data sheet form PTO/AIA/14 provides an assignee information section, which includes the name (either person or juristic entity) and address of the assignee of the entire right, title, and interest in an application. The inclusion of this information in the application data sheet does not substitute for compliance with any requirement of 37 CFR part 3 to have an assignment recorded by the Office. Providing assignee information in the application data sheet is considered a request to include such information on the patent application publication, since there is no other reason for including such information in the application data sheet. Assignment information must be recorded to have legal effect. Assignees who are the applicant will appear on the patent application publication as the applicant and only need to separately provide assignee information in the assignee information section if identification as an assignee is also desired on the patent application publication.

37 CFR 1.76(e) provides that an application data sheet must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.33(b). The rule further provides that an unsigned application data sheet will be treated only as a transmittal letter. Thus, an unsigned application data sheet will not be effective to provide the name of the inventor for any invention claimed in the application (37 CFR 1.41(b)), name as the applicant an assignee, obligated assignee, or a person who otherwise shows sufficient propriety interest in the application (37 CFR 1.46), make a claim to priority of a foreign application (37 CFR 1.55), or make a claim to the benefit of a prior-filed domestic application (37 CFR 1.78).

Effective December 18, 2013 for all applications no matter when filed, 37 CFR 1.76 was amended by adding new paragraphs (f) and (g) to permit the use of Patent Law Treaty Model International Forms as appropriate or the Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form in lieu of an application data sheet under 37 CFR 1.76 to provide certain information. However, as provided in 37 CFR 1.76(d)(2), information in an ADS will govern when inconsistent with the information supplied at any time in such forms. Furthermore, if applicants want to postpone submission of the inventor’s oath or declaration until after the time period set to complete the application as provided in 37 CFR 1.53(f)(1) or (2), an ADS that provides the inventor information is required. Accordingly, the use of an ADS to supply application information is encouraged.

37 CFR 1.76(f) provides that: (1) The requirement in 37 CFR 1.55 or 37 CFR 1.78 for the presentation of a priority or benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 119, 120, 121, or 365 in an application data sheet will be satisfied by the presentation of such priority or benefit claim in the Patent Law Treaty Model International Request Form; (2) the requirement in 37 CFR 1.57(a) for a reference to the previously filed application in an application data sheet will be satisfied by the presentation of such reference to the previously filed application in the Patent Law Treaty Model International Request Form; and (3) the requirement in 37 CFR 1.46 for the presentation of the name of the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 118 in an application data sheet will be satisfied by the presentation of the name of the applicant in the Patent Law Treaty Model International Request Form, Patent Law Treaty Model International Request for Recordation of Change in Name or Address Form, or Patent Law Treaty Model International Request for Recordation of Change in Applicant or Owner Form, as applicable.

37 CFR 1.76(g) provides that the requirement in 37 CFR 1.78 for the presentation of a benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 119, 120, 121, or 365 in an application data sheet will be satisfied in a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 by the presentation of such benefit claim in the Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form contained in the international application or the presence of such benefit claim on the front page of the publication of the international application under PCT Article 21(2). 37 CFR 1.76(g) states ‘‘the Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form contained in the international application’’ to make clear that the provision does not allow for that addition or correction of benefit claim (or any other) information during the national stage via the submission of a new Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form. Applicants may add or correct benefit claim (or any other) information during the national stage via the submission of an application data sheet under 37 CFR 1.76 (assuming that the conditions and requirements for such addition or correction are satisfied). 37 CFR 1.76(g) provides for presence of such benefit claim on the front page of the publication of the international application under PCT Article 21(2) to account for replacement sheets of the Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form that may not be forwarded to each national office but that are reflected in the International Bureau’s publication of the international application. 37 CFR 1.76(g) does not mention either the provisions in 37 CFR 1.55 for the presentation of a priority claim under 35 U.S.C. 119 or 365 in an application data sheet or the provisions in 37 CFR 1.46 for the presentation of the name of the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 118 in an application data sheet with respect to a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371 as this information is taken from the WIPO records of the international application in a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. 371.

37 CFR 1.76(g) also provides that the requirement in 37 CFR 1.55 or 37 CFR 1.78 for the presentation of a priority or benefit claim under 35 U.S.C. 119, 120, 121, or 365 in an application data sheet and the requirement in 37 CFR 1.46 for the presentation of the name of the applicant under 35 U.S.C. 118 in an application data sheet will be satisfied in an application under 35 U.S.C. 111 by the presentation of such priority or benefit claim and presentation of the name of the applicant in a Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form. 37 CFR 1.76(g) finally also provides that if a Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form is submitted in an application under 35 U.S.C. 111, the Patent Cooperation Treaty Request Form must be accompanied by a clear indication that treatment of the application as an application under 35 U.S.C. 111 is desired.