DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No. 991027288-0264-02]
RIN 0651-AB10
Guidelines for Examination of Patent Applications Under the
35 U.S.C. 112, 1, `Written Description' Requirement
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: These Guidelines will be used by USPTO personnel in their review
of patent applications for compliance with the `written description'
requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112, 1. These Guidelines supersede the `Revised
Interim Guidelines for Examination of Patent Applications Under the 35
U.S.C. 112, 1 `Written Description' Requirement' that were published in
the Federal Register at 64 FR 71427, Dec. 21, 1999, and in the Official
Gazette at 1231 O.G. 123, Feb. 29, 2000. These Guidelines reflect the
current understanding of the USPTO regarding the written description
requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, and are applicable to all technologies.
DATES: The Guidelines are effective as of January 5, 2001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Walsh by telephone at (703)
305-9035, by facsimile at (703) 305-9373, by mail to his attention
addressed to United States Patent and Trademark Office, Box 8, Washington,
DC 20231, or by electronic mail at `stephen.walsh@uspto.gov'; or Linda
Therkorn by telephone at (703) 305-8800, by facsimile at (703) 305-8825,
by mail addressed to Box Comments, Commissioner for Patents, Washington,
DC 20231, or by electronic mail at `linda.therkorn@uspto.gov.'
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As of the publication date of this notice, these
Guidelines will be used by USPTO personnel in their review of patent
applications for compliance with the `written description' requirement of
35 U.S.C. 112, 1. Because these Guidelines only govern internal
practices, they are exempt from notice and comment rulemaking under 5
U.S.C. 553(b)(A).
Discussion of Public Comments
Comments were received from 48 individuals and 18 organizations in
response to the request for comments on the `Revised Interim Guidelines for
Examination of Patent Applications Under the 35 U.S.C. 112, 1 `Written
Description' Requirement' published in the Federal Register at 64 FR 71427,
Dec. 21, 1999, and in the Official Gazette at 1231 O.G. 123, Feb. 29, 2000.
The written comments have been carefully considered.
Overview of Comments
The majority of comments favored issuance of final written description
guidelines with minor revisions. Comments pertaining to the written
description guidelines are addressed in detail below. A few comments
addressed particular concerns with respect to the associated examiner
training materials that are available for public inspection at the USPTO
web site (www.uspto.gov). Such comments will be taken under advisement in
the revision of the training materials; consequently, these comments are
not specifically addressed below as they do not impact the content of the
Guidelines. Several comments raised issues pertaining to the patentability
of ESTs, genes, or genomic inventions with respect to subject matter
eligibility (35 U.S.C. 101), novelty (35 U.S.C. 102), or obviousness (35
U.S.C. 103). As these comments do not pertain to the written description
requirement under 35 U.S.C. 112, they have not been addressed. However, the
aforementioned comments are fully addressed in the `Discussion of Public
Comments' in the `Utility Examination Guidelines' Final Notice, which will
be published at or about the same time as the present Guidelines.
Responses to Specific Comments
(1) Comment: One comment stated that the Guidelines instruct the patent
examiner to determine the correspondence between what applicant has
described as the essential identifying characteristic features of the
invention and what applicant has claimed, and that such analysis will lead
to error. According to the comment, the examiner may decide what applicant
should have claimed and reject the claim for failure to claim what the
examiner considers to be the invention. Another comment suggested that the
Guidelines should clarify what is meant by `essential features of the
invention.' Another comment suggested that what applicant has identified as
the `essential distinguishing characteristics' of the invention should
be understood in terms of Fiers v. Revel, 984 F.2d 1164, 1169, 25 USPQ2d
1601, 1605 (Fed. Cir. 1993) (`Conception of a substance claimed per se
without reference to a process requires conception of its structure, name,
formula, or definitive chemical or physical properties.').
Response: The suggestions have been adopted in part. The purpose of the
written description analysis is to confirm that applicant had possession of
what is claimed. The Guidelines have been modified to instruct the
examiners to compare the scope of the invention claimed with the scope of
what applicant has defined in the description of the invention. That is,
the Guidelines instruct the examiner to look for consistency between a
claim and what provides adequate factual support for the claim as judged by
one of ordinary skill in the art from reading the corresponding written
description.
(2) Comment: Two comments urge that Regents of the University of
California v. Eli Lilly & Co., 119 F.3d 1559, 43 USPQ2d 1398 (Fed. Cir.
1997), is bad law and should not be followed by the USPTO because it
conflicts with binding precedent, such as Vas-Cath v. Mahurkar, 935 F.2d
1555, 19 USPQ2d 1111 (Fed. Cir. 1991). Response: The final Guidelines are
based on the Office's current understanding of the law and are believed to
be fully consistent with binding precedent of the U.S. Supreme Court and
the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. "Eli Lilly is a
precedential decision by the Court that has exclusive jurisdiction over
appeals involving patent law. Accordingly, the USPTO must follow Eli Lilly.
Furthermore, the USPTO does not view Eli Lilly as conflicting with
Vas-Cath. Vas-Cath explains that the purpose of the written description
requirement is to ensure that the applicant has conveyed to those of skill
in the art that he or she was in possession of the claimed invention at the
time of filing. Vas-Cath, 935 F.2d at 1563-64, 19 USPQ2d at 1117. Eli
Lilly explains that a chemical compound's name does not necessarily convey
a written description of the na chemical compound, particularly when a
genus of compounds is claimed. Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1568, 43 USPQ2d at
1405. The name, if it does no more than distinguish the claimed genus from
all others by function, does not satisfy the written description
requirement because `it does not define any structural features commonly
possessed by members of the genus that distinguish them from others. One
skilled in the art therefore cannot, as one can do with a fully described
genus, visualize or recognize the identity of the members of the genus.'
Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1568, 43 USPQ2d at 1406. Thus, Eli Lilly identified
a set of circumstances in which the words of the claim did not, without
more, adequately convey to others that applicants had possession of what
they claimed.
(3) Comment: Several comments urged that the Guidelines do not recognize
the inconsistency between the original claim doctrine and the written
description requirement as set out in Fiers and Eli Lilly. On the other
hand, another comment asserts that there is no strong presumedmption that
an originally filed claim constitutes an adequate written description of
the claimed subject matter. Several comments indicate that in haec verba
support should be sufficient to comply with the written description
requirement. Two comments urge that the concept of constructive reduction
to practice upon filing of an application has been ignored. Response: As
noted above, the USPTO does not find Fiers and Eli Lilly to be in conflict
with binding precedent. An original claim may provide written description
for itself, but it still must be an adequate written description which
establishes that the inventor was in possession of the invention. The
`original claim doctrine' is founded on cases which stand for the
proposition that originally filed claims are part of the written
description of an application as filed, and thus subject matter which is
present only in originally filed claims need not find independent support
in the specification. See, e.g., In re Koller, 613 F.2d 819, 824,
204 USPQ 702, 706 (CCPA 1980) (later added claims of similar scope and
wording were adequately described by original claims); In re Gardner, 480
F.2d 879, 880, 178 USPQ 149, 149 (CCPA 1973) (`Under these circumstances,
we consider the original claim in itself adequate `written description' of
the claimed invention. It was equally a `written description' * * * whether
located among the original claims or in the descriptive part of the
specification.'). However, as noted in the preceding comment, Eli Lilly
identified a set of circumstances in which the words of the claim did not,
without more, adequately convey to others that applicants had possession of
what they claimed. When the name of a novel chemical compound does not
convey sufficient structural information about the compound to identify
the compound, merely reciting the name is not enough to show that the
inventor had possession of the compound at the time the name was written.
The Guidelines indicate that there is a `strong presumedmption' that an
adequate written description of the claimed invention is present when the
application is filed, consistent with In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257, 263,
191 USPQ 90, 97 (CCPA 1976) (`we are of the opinion that the PTO has the
initial burden of presenting evidence or reasons why persons skilled in the
art would not recognize in the disclosure a description of the invention
defined by the claims.'). In most cases, the statement that `an originally
filed claim is its own written description,' is borne out because the
claim language conveys to others of skill in the art that the applicant
was `in possession' of what is claimed. The Guidelines emphasize that the
burden of proof is on the examiner to establish that a description as filed
is not adequate and require the examiner to introduce sufficient evidence
or technical reasoning to shift the burden of going forward with contrary
evidence to the applicant.
(4) Comment: One comment stated that the Guidelines change the substance
of the written description requirement to require some level of enablement.
The comment stated that the Eli Lilly case should not be followed because
its change in the quality of the description required is in conflict with
precedent. Another comment suggested that to comply with the written
description requirement, the description must both (i) demonstrate
possession of the claimed invention by the applicant; and (ii) put the
public in possession of the claimed invention. Response: As noted in the
comment above, the USPTO is bound by the Federal Circuit's decision in
Eli Lilly. The Guidelines have been revised to clarify that an applicant
must provide a description of the claimed invention which shows that
applicant was in possession of the claimed invention. The suggestion to
emphasize that the written description requirement must put the public in
possession of the invention has not been adopted because it removes much of
the distinction between the written description requirement and the
enablement requirement. Although the two concepts are entwined, they are
distinct and each is evaluated under separate legal criteria. The written
description requirement, a question of fact, ensures that the inventor
conveys to others that he or she had possession of the claimed invention;
whereas, the enablement requirement, a question of law, ensures that the
inventor conveys to others how to make and use the claimed invention.
(5) Comment: One comment suggested that the Guidelines should provide
examples of situations in which the written description requirement was met
but the enablement requirement was not, and vice versa. Another comment
stated that examiners often use enablement language in making written
description rejections. Response: The enablement and written description
requirements are not coextensive and, therefore, situations will arise in
which one requirement is met but the other is not. Federal Circuit case law
demonstrates many circumstances where enablement or written description
issues, but not both, were before the Court. These Guidelines are intended
to clarify for the examining corps the criteria needed to satisfy the
written description requirement. For examples applying these Guidelines to
hypothetical fact situations, see the `Synopsis of Application of Written
Description Guidelines' (examiner training materials available on-line at
http://www.uspto.gov/web/menu/written.pdf). These examples, as well as the
examination form paragraphs and instructions on their proper use, provide
the appropriate language examiners should use in making written description
rejections.
(6) Comment: One comment disagreed with the statement in an endnote that
`the fact that a great deal more than just a process is necessary to render
a product invention obvious means that a great deal more than just a
process is necessary to provide written description for a product
invention.' The comment indicated that the statement is overly broad and
inconsistent with the `strong presumedmption that an adequate written
description of the claimed invention is present when the application is
filed.' As an extreme case, for example, for product-by-process claims,
nothing else would be needed to provide the written description of the
product. Response: The endnote has been clarified and is now more narrowly
drawn. However, there is no per se rule that disclosure of a process is
sufficient to adequately describe the products produced by the process. In
fact, Fiers v. Revel and Eli Lilly involved special circumstances where the
disclosure of a process of making and the function of the product alone did
not provide an adequate written description for product claims. Even when a
product is claimed in a product-by-process format, the adequacy of the
written description of the process to support product claims must be
evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
(7) Comment: Several comments urge that actual reduction to practice, as
a method of satisfying the written description requirement by demonstrating
possession, has been over-emphasized. Response: The Guidelines have been
clarified to state that describing an actual reduction to practice is one
of a number of ways to show possession of the invention. Description of an
actual reduction to practice offers an important `safe haven' that applies
to all applications and is just one of several ways by which an applicant
may demonstrate possession of the claimed invention. Actual reduction to
practice may be crucial in the relatively rare instances where the
level of knowledge and level of skill are such that those of skill in
the art cannot describe a composition structurally, or specify a process of
making a composition by naming components and combining steps, in such a
way as to distinguish the composition with particularity from all others.
Thus, the emphasis on actual reduction to practice is appropriate in those
cases where the inventor cannot provide an adequate description of what the
composition is, and a definition by function is insufficient to define a
composition `because it is only an indication of what the [composition]
does, rather than what it is.' Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1568, 43 USPQ at
1406. See also Amgen Inc. v. Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., 927 F.2d 1200,
1206, 18 USPQ2d 1016, 1021 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
(8) Comment: One comment asserts that the citation to Pfaff v. Wells
Electronics, Inc., 525 U.S. 55, 48 USPQ2d 1641 (1998) is inappropriate and
should be deleted because Pfaff is concerned with 102(b) on-sale bar, not
written description. Another comment suggested that the Guidelines should
provide an explanation of how the `ready for patenting' concept of Pfaff
should be used in determining compliance with the written description
requirement. Response: The Guidelines state the general principle that
actual reduction to practice is not required to show possession of, or to
adequately describe, a claimed invention (although, as noted in the
previous comment, an actual reduction to practice is crucial in relatively
rare instances). An alternative is to show that the invention described was
`ready for patenting' as set out in Pfaff. For example, a description of
activities that demonstrates the invention was `ready for patenting'
satisfies the written description requirement. As Wertheim indicates, `how
the specification accomplishes this is not material.' 541 F.2d at 262, 191
USPQ at 96.
(9) Comment: One comment stated that the written description of a
claimed DNA should be required to include the complete sequence of the DNA
and claims should be limited to the DNA sequence disclosed. Response:
Describing the complete chemical structure, i.e., the DNA sequence, of a
claimed DNA is one method of satisfying the written description
requirement, but it is not the only method. See Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at
1566, 43 USPQ2d at 1404 (`An adequate written description of a DNA * * *
requires a precise definition, such as by structure, formula, chemical
name, or physical properties.' (emphasis added, internal quote omitted)).
Therefore, there is no basis for a per se rule requiring disclosure of
complete DNA sequences or limiting DNA claims to only the sequence
disclosed.
(10) Comment: One comment stated that it is difficult to envision how
one could provide a description of sufficient identifying characteristics
of the invention without physical possession of a species of the invention,
and thus this manner of showing possession should be considered as a way to
show actual reduction to practice. Response: This suggestion has not been
adopted. The three ways of demonstrating possession as set forth in the
Guidelines are merely exemplary and are not mutually exclusive. While there
are some cases where a description of sufficient relevant identifying
characteristics will evidence an actual reduction to practice, there are
other cases where it will not. See, e.g., Ralston Purina Co. v. Far-Mar-Co,
Inc., 772 F.2d 1570, 1576, 227 USPQ 177, 180 (Fed. Cir. 1985) (disclosure
taken with the knowledge of those skilled in the art may be sufficient
support for claims).
(11) Comment: One comment stated that the Guidelines should be revised
to indicate that the test of disclosure of sufficiently detailed drawings
should be expanded to include structural claiming of chemical entities.
Response: The suggestion has been adopted.
(12) Comment: One comment stated that the Guidelines should reflect that
an inventor is in possession of the invention when the inventor
demonstrably has at least a complete conception thereof, and that factors
and attributes which provide proof of written description should include
evidence typically provided to prove a complete conception. Response: The
suggestion has not been adopted because the conception analysis typically
involves documentary evidence in addition to the description of the
invention in the application as filed. However, it is acknowledged that if
evidence typically provided to prove a complete conception is present in
the specification as filed, it would be sufficient to show possession. The
Federal Circuit has stated `[t]he conception analysis necessarily turns on
the inventor's ability to describe his invention with particularity. Until
he can do so, he cannot prove possession of the complete mental picture
of the invention.' Burroughs Wellcome Co. v. Barr Labs., Inc., 40 F.3d
1223, 1228, 32 USPQ2d 1915, 1919 (Fed. Cir. 1994). As further noted by the
Federal Circuit, in order to prove conception, `a party must show
possession of every feature recited in the count, and that every limitation
of the count must have been known to the inventor at the time of the
alleged conception.' Coleman v. Dines, 754 F.2d 353, 359, 224 USPQ 857,
862 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
(13) Comment: One comment indicated that a `possession' test does not
appear in Title 35 of the U.S. Code and is not clearly stated by the
Federal Circuit. Therefore, it is recommended that patent examiners be
directed to use existing judicial precedent to make rejections of claims
unsupported by a statutory written description requirement. Response: While
the Federal Circuit has not specifically laid out a `possession' test, the
Court has clearly indicated that possession is a cornerstone of the written
description inquiry. See, e.g., Vas-Cath, Inc. v. Mahurkar, 935 F.2d
1555, 1563, 19 USPQ2d 1111, 1116 (Fed. Cir. 1991); see also Purdue Pharma
L.P. v. Faulding Inc., 230 F.3d 1320, 1323, 56 USPQ2d 1481, 1483 (Fed. Cir.
2000) (`[o]ne skilled in the art, reading the disclosure, must imiately
discern the limitation at issue in the claims') (internal quote omitted).
The possession test as set forth in the Guidelines is extrapolated from
case law in a wide variety of technologies and is not intended to be
limiting. Any rejections made by examiners will be made under 35 U.S.C.
112, 1, with supporting rationale. Final rejections are appealable if
applicant disagrees and follows the required procedures to appeal.
(14) Comment: Two comments indicated that if the amino acid sequence for
a polypeptide whose utility has been identified is described, then the
question of possession of a class of nucleotides encoding that polypeptide
can be addressed as a relatively routine matter using the understanding of
the genetic code, and that the endnote addressing this issue should be
revised. Response: The suggestion of these comments has been incorporated
in the Guidelines and will be reflected in the training materials. However,
based upon In re Bell, 991 F.2d 781, 785, 26 USPQ2d 1529, 1532 (Fed.
Cir. 1993) and In re Baird, 16 F.3d 380, 382, 29 USPQ2d 1550, 1552
(Fed. Cir. 1994), this does not mean that applicant was in possession
of any particular species of the broad genus.
(15) Comment: One comment disagreed with an endnote which stated that a
laundry list disclosure of moieties does not constitute a written
description of every species in a genus. Specifically, the comment
indicates that if the existence of a functional genus is adequately
described in the specification, a laundry list of the species within that
genus must satisfy the written description requirement. Response: The
suggestion to revise the endnote will not be adopted. A lack of adequate
written description problem arises if the knowledge and level of skill in
the art would not permit one skilled in the art to imiately envisage the
product claimed from the disclosure. This was aptly demonstrated in In re
Bell and In re Baird where possession of a large genus did not put a person
of ordinary skill in the art in possession of any particular species. See
also Purdue Pharma, 230 F.3d at 1328, 56 USPQ2d at 1487 (because the
original specification did not disclose the later claimed concentration
ratio was a part of the invention, the inventors cannot argue that they are
merely narrowing a broad invention).
(16) Comment: One comment suggested that in the majority of cases, a
single species will support a generic claimedm, and that the Guidelines
should emphasize this point. Response: The suggestion has been adopted to a
limited degree. The Guidelines now indicate that a single species may, in
some instances, provide an adequate written description of a generic claim
when the description of the species would evidence to one of ordinary skill
in the art that the invention includes the genus. Note, however, Tronzo v.
Biomet, Inc., 156 F.3d 1154, 47 USPQ2d 1829 (Fed. Cir. 1998), where the
species in the parent application was held not to provide written
description support for the genus in the child application.
(17) Comment: One comment asserted that the Guidelines should focus on
the compliance of the claims, not the specification, with the written
description requirement. Response: This suggestion will not be adopted.
`The specification shall contain a written description of the invention.'
35 U.S.C. 112. The claims are part of the specification. Id., p 2. If an
adequate description is provided, it will suffice `whether located among
the original claims or in the descriptive part of the specification.'
In re Gardner, 480 F.2d 879, 880, 178 USPQ 149 (CCPA 1973). The entire
disclosure, including the specification, drawings, and claims, must be
considered.
(18) Comment: One comment asserted that the Guidelines confuse `new
matter,' 35 U.S.C. 132, with the written description requirement, and that
the same standard for written description should be applied to both
original claims and new or amended claims. Response: The Guidelines
indicate that for both original and amended claims, the inquiry is whether
one skilled in the art can reasonably conclude that the inventor had
possession of the claimed invention at the time the application was filed.
(19) Comment: One comment suggested that the second paragraph of the
section pertaining to determining what the claim as a whole covers should
be deleted because it relates more to compliance with 112, second
paragraph, than with the written description requirement. Response: This
suggestion will not be adopted. The claims must be construed and all issues
as to the scope and meaning of the claim must be explored during the
inquiry into whether the written description requirement has been met. The
concept of treating the claim as a whole is applicable to all criteria for
patentability.
(20) Comment: One comment suggested a different order for the general
analysis for determining compliance with the written description
requirement, starting with reading the claim, then the specification, and
then determining whether the disclosure demonstrates possession by the
applicant. Response: This suggestion will not be adopted. The claims must
be construed as broadly as reasonable in light of the specification and
the knowledge in the art. See In re Morris, 127 F.3d 1048, 1054, 44 USPQ2d
1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Then the disclosure must be evaluated to
determine whether it adequately describes the claimed invention, i.e.,
whether it conveys to a person having ordinary skill in the art that the
applicant had possession of what he or she now claims.
(21) Comment: Several comments suggested that the Guidelines are unclear
with regard to how the examiner should treat the transitional phrase
`consisting essentially of.' The comments also suggested that the endnote
that explains `consisting essentially of' does not make clear how the use
of this interiate transitional language affects the scope of the claim.
Several comments stated that the USPTO does not have legal authority to
treat claims reciting this language as open (equivalent to `comprising').
Another comment suggested that the phrase `clear indication in the
specification' be replaced with `explicit or implicit indication.'
Response: The transitional phrase `consisting essentially of' `excludes
ingredients that would `materially affect the basic and novel
characteristics' of the claimed composition.' Atlas Powder Co. v. E.I.
DuPont de Nemours & Co., 750 F.2d 1569, 1574, 224 USPQ 409, 412 (Fed. Cir.
1984). The basic and novel characteristics of the claimed invention are
limited by the balance of the claim. In re Janakirama-Rao, 317 F.2d 951,
954, 137 USPQ 893, 896 (CCPA 1963). However, during prosecution claims must
be read broadly, consistent with the specification. In re Morris, 127 F.3d
1048, 1054, 44 USPQ2d 1023, 1027 (Fed. Cir. 1997). Thus, for purposes of
searching for and applying prior art in a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 102 or
103, if the specification or the claims do not define the `basic and novel'
properties of the claimed subject matter (or if such properties are in
dispute), the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the
specification is that the basic and novel characteristics are merely the
presence of the recited limitations. See, e.g., Janakirama-Rao, 317 F.2d at
954, 137 USPQ at 895-96. This does not indicate that the interiate
transitional language is never given weight. Applicants may amend the
claims to avoid the rejections or seek to establish that the specification
provides definitions of terms in the claims that define the basic and novel
characteristics of the claimed invention which distinguish the claimed
invention from the prior art. When an applicant contends that additional
steps or materials in the prior art are excluded by the recitation of
`consisting essentially of,' applicant has the burden of showing that the
introduction of additional steps or components would materially change the
characteristics of applicant's invention. In re De Lajarte, 337 F.2d 870,
143 USPQ 256 (CCPA 1964). The language used in the Guidelines is consistent
with PPG Industries Inc. v. Guardian Industries Corp., 156 F.3d 1351, 1355,
48 USPQ2d 1351, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (`PPG could have defined the scope of
the phrase `consisting essentially of' for purposes of its patent by making
clear in its specification what it regarded as constituting a material
change in the basic and novel characteristics.').
(22) Comment: One comment stated that the written description should
`disclose the invention,' including why the invention works and how it was
developed. Response: This suggestion has not been adopted. An inventor does
not need to know how or why the invention works in order to obtain a
patent. Newman v. Quigg, 877 F.2d 1575, 1581, 11 USPQ2d 1340, 1345 (Fed.
Cir. 1989). To satisfy the enablement requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, an
application must disclose the claimed invention in sufficient detail to
enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the claimed
invention. To satisfy the written description requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112,
1, the description must show that the applicant was in possession of the
claimed invention at the time of filing. There is no statutory basis to
require disclosure of why an invention works or how it was developed.
`Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention
was made.' 35 U.S.C. 103(a).
(23) Comment: One comment recommended that the phrases `emerging and
unpredictable technologies' and `unpredictable art' be replaced with the
phraseMinventions characterized by factors which are not reasonably
predictable in terms of the ordinary skill in the artM. Response: The
suggestion is adopted in part and the recommended phrase has been added as
an alternative.
(24) Comment: One comment recommended that the phrase `conventional in
the art' be replaced withMpart of the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in
the artM. Response: The suggestion is adopted in part and the recommended
phrase has been added as an alternative. The standard of `conventional in
the art' is supported by case law holding that a patent specification `need
not teach, and preferably omits, what is well known in the art.' See
Spectra-Physics, Inc. v. Coherent, Inc., 827 F.2d 1524, 1534, 3 USPQ2d
1737, 1743 (Fed. Cir. 1987); Hybritech Inc. v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc.,
802 F.2d 1367, 1384, 231 USPQ 81, 94 (Fed. Cir. 1986). See also Atmel Corp.
v. Information Storage Devices, Inc., 198 F.3d 1374, 1382, 53 USPQ2d 1225,
1231 (Fed. Cir. 1999).
(25) Comment: One comment recommended that the Guidelines be amended to
state that the appropriate skill level for determining possession of the
claimed invention is that of a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Response: The comment has not been adopted. The statutory language itself
indicates that compliance with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, is
judged from the standard of `any person skilled in the art.' It is noted,
however, that the phrases `one of skill in the art' and `one of ordinary
skill in the art' appear to be synonymous. See, e.g., Union Oil Co. v.
Atlantic Richfield Co., 208 F.3d 989, 997, 54 USPQ2d 1227, 1232 (Fed. Cir.
2000) (`The written description requirement does not require the applicant
`to describe exactly the subject matter claimed, [instead] the description
must clearly allow persons of ordinary skill in the art to recognize that
[he or she] invented what is claimed.' Thus, 112, 1, ensures that,
as of the filing date, the inventor conveyed with reasonable clarity to
those of skill in the art that he was in possession of the subject matter
of the claimedms.' (citations omitted, emphasis added)).
(26) Comment: One comment stated that an endnote misstates the relevant
law in stating that, to show inherent written descriptive support for a
claim limitation, the inherent disclosure must be such as would be
recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The comment
recommended that the endnote be amended to delete the reference to
recognition by persons of ordinary skill and to cite Pingree v. Hull, 518
F.2d 624, 186 USPQ 248 (CCPA 1975), rather than In re Robertson, 169 F.3d
743, 49 USPQ2d 1949 (Fed. Cir. 1999). Response: The comment has not been
adopted. Federal Circuit precedent makes clear that an inherent disclosure
must be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art. See, e.g.,
Hyatt v. Boone, 146 F.3d 1348, 1354-55, 47 USPQ2d 1128, 1132 (Fed.
Cir. 1998) (`[T]he purpose of the description requirement is `to ensure
that the inventor had possession, as of the filing date of the application
relied on, of the specific subject matter later claimed by him.'
* * * Thus, the written description must include all of the limitations of
the interference count, or the applicant must show that any absent text is
necessarily comprehended in the description provided and would have been so
understood at the time the patent application was filed.' (emphasis
added)). See also Reiffin v. Microsoft Corp., 214 F.3d 1342, 1346, 54
USPQ2d 1915, 1917 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (The `application considered as a whole
must convey to one of ordinary skill in the art, either explicitly or
inherently, that [the inventor] invented the subject matter claimed * * *.
See * * * Continental Can Co. USA v. Monsanto Co., 948 F.2d 1264, 1268,
20 USPQ2d 1746, 1749 (Fed. Cir. 1991) (descriptive matter may be inherently
present in a specification if one skilled in the art would necessarily
recognize such a disclosure)').
(27) Comment: Several comments pointed out an inconsistency in the
Federal Register Notice re: the Revised Interim Written Description
Guidelines. The inconsistency concerned the treatment of claims directed
to an isolated DNA comprising SEQ ID NO:1 wherein SEQ ID NO:1 is an
expressed sequence tag. The comments contrasted paragraphs 34 and 35 of the
Response to Public Comments with the statement in the text of the
Guidelines that a genus must be supported by a representative number of
species (as analyzed in Example 7 of the training materials). Response: The
USPTO acknowledges that there was an inconsistency. The Office notes that a
claim reciting a nucleic acid comprising SEQ ID NO:1 may be subject to
a rejection for lack of an adequate written description where particular
identifiable species within the scope of the claim lack an adequate written
description. The training materials as amended exemplify an appropriate
analysis.
(28) Comment: One comment stated that the USPTO should respond to the
issue of whether the U.S. is meeting its TRIPs obligations. This comment
noted that the USPTO did not address an earlier comment regarding the
`Interim Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications under the
35 U.S.C. 112, 1, `Written Description' Requirement,' 63 FR 32,639, June
15, 1998, which questioned whether the written description requirement is
truly different from the enablement requirement, and indicated that such a
requirement may be contrary to the TRIPs provisions of the World Trade
Organization (Article 27.1). Article 27.1 requires WTO Members to,
inter alia, make patents available, with limited exceptions, for products
and processes in all fields of technology so long as those products and
processes are new, involve an inventive step, and are capable of industrial
application. The comment further suggested a response. Response: TRIPs
Article 27 does not address what must be included in a patent application
to allow WTO Member officials to determine whether particular inventions
meet the standards for patentability established in that Article. TRIPs
Article 29, which is more relevant to this comment, states that Members
`shall require' patent applicants to disclose their invention `in a manner
sufficiently clear and complete for the invention to be carried out by a
person skilled in the art.' If the written description is not clear and
complete, the applicant may not have been in possession of the invention.
This may support both written description and enablement standards. In
addition, Article 29 expressly authorizes Members to require patent
applicants to disclose the best method the inventor knows at the time of
filing an application for carrying out the invention.
(29) Comment: Two comments commended the USPTO for eliminating the
Biotechnology Specific Examples in the Revised Interim Written Description
Guidelines and providing separate training materials. One comment indicated
a need to reconfirm the examples set forth in the Interim Written
Description Guidelines published in 1998. Response: The current training
materials reflect the manner in which the USPTO interprets the Written
Description Guidelines.
(30) Comment: Several comments addressed specific concerns about the
examiner training materials. Response: The comments received with respect
to the training materials will be taken under advisement as the Office
revises the training materials in view of the revisions to the Guidelines.
The specific comments will not be addressed herein as they do not impact
the language of the Guidelines.
Guidelines for the Examination of Patent Applications Under
the 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, `Written Description' Requirement
These `Written Description Guidelines' are intended to assist Office
personnel in the examination of patent applications for compliance with the
written description requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112, 1. This revision is
based on the Office's current understanding of the law and public comments
received in response to the USPTO's previous request for public comments on
its Revised Interim Written Description Guidelines and is believed to be
fully consistent with binding precedent of the U.S. Supreme Court, as well
as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and its predecessor
courts.
This revision does not constitute substantive rulemaking and hence does
not have the force and effect of law. It is designed to assist Office
personnel in analyzing claimed subject matter for compliance with
substantive law. Rejections will be based upon the substantive law, and
it is these rejections which are appealable. Consequently, any perceived
failure by Office personnel to follow these Guidelines is neither
appealable nor petitionable.
These Guidelines are intended to form part of the normal examination
process. Thus, where Office personnel establish a prima facie case of lack
of written description for a claim, a thorough review of the prior art and
examination on the merits for compliance with the other statutory
requirements, including those of 35 U.S.C. 101, 102, 103, and 112, is to
be conducted prior to completing an Office action which includes a
rejection for lack of written description. Office personnel are to rely on
this revision of the Guidelines in the event of any inconsistent treatment
of issues involving the written description requirement between these
Guidelines and any earlier guidance provided from the Office.
I. General Principles Governing Compliance With the `Written
Description' Requirement for Applications
The first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112 requires that the `specification
shall contain a written description of the invention * * *.' This
requirement is separate and distinct from the enablement requirement. 1
The written description requirement has several policy objectives. `[T]he
`essential goal' of the description of the invention requirement is to
clearly convey the information that an applicant has invented the subject
matter which is claimed.' 2 Another objective is to put the public
in possession of what the applicant claims as the invention. 3
The written description requirement of the Patent Act promotes the progress
of the useful arts by ensuring that patentees adequately describe their
inventions in their patent specifications in exchange for the right to
exclude others from practicing the invention for the duration of the
patent's term.
To satisfy the written description requirement, a patent specification
must describe the claimed invention in sufficient detail that one skilled
in the art can reasonably conclude that the inventor had possession of the
claimed invention. 4 An applicant shows possession of the claimed invention
by describing the claimed invention with all of its limitations using such
descriptive means as words, structures, figures, diagrams, and formulas
that fully set forth the claimed invention. 5 Possession may be shown in a
variety of ways including description of an actual reduction to practice, 6
or by showing that the invention was `ready for patenting' such as by the
disclosure of drawings or structural chemical formulas that show that the
invention was complete, 7 or by describing distinguishing identifying
characteristics sufficient to show that the applicant was in possession
of the claimed invention. 8 A question as to whether a specification
provides an adequate written description may arise in the context of an
original claim which is not described sufficiently, a new or amended claim
wherein a claim limitation has been added or removed, or a claim to
entitlement of an earlier priority date or effective filing date under 35
U.S.C. 119, 120, or 365(c). 9 Compliance with the written description
requirement is a question of fact which must be resolved on a case-by-case
basis.10
A. Original Claims
There is a strong presumption that an adequate written description of
the claimed invention is present when the application is filed. 11 However,
the issue of a lack of adequate written description may arise even for an
original claim when an aspect of the claimed invention has not been
described with sufficient particularity such that one skilled in the art
would recognize that the applicant had possession of the claimed
invention. 12 The claimed invention as a whole may not be adequately
described if the claims require an essential or critical feature which
is not adequately described in the specification and which is not
conventional in the art or known to one of ordinary skill in the art.
13 This problem may arise where an invention is described solely in terms
of a method of its making coupled with its function and there is no
described or art-recognized correlation or relationship between the
structure of the invention and its function. 14 A lack of adequate written
description issue also arises if the knowledge and level of skill in the
art would not permit one skilled in the art to immediately envisage the
product claimed from the disclosed process. 15
B. New or Amended Claims
The proscription against the introduction of new matter in a
patent application 16 serves to prevent an applicant from adding
information that goes beyond the subject matter originally filed. 17 Thus,
the written description requirement prevents an applicant from claiming
subject matter that was not adequately described in the specification as
filed. New or amended claims which introduce elements or limitations which
are not supported by the as-filed disclosure violate the written
description requirement. 18 While there is no in haec verba requirement,
newly added claim limitations must be supported in the specification
through express, implicit, or inherent disclosure. An amendment to correct
an obvious error does not constitute new matter where one skilled in the
art would not only recognize the existence of the error in the
specification, but also recognize the appropriate correction. 19 Deposits
made after the application filing date cannot be relied upon to support
additions to or correction of information in the application as filed. 20
Under certain circumstances, omission of a limitation can raise an
issue regarding whether the inventor had possession of a broader, more
generic invention. 21 A claim that omits an element which applicant
describes as an essential or critical feature of the invention originally
disclosed does not comply with the written description requirement. 22
The fundamental factual inquiry is whether the specification conveys
with reasonable clarity to those skilled in the art that, as of the
filing date sought, applicant was in possession of the invention as now
claimed. 23
II. Methodology for Determining Adequacy of Written Description
A. Read and Analyze the Specification for Compliance With 35 U.S.C. 112, 1
Office personnel should adhere to the following procedures when
reviewing patent applications for compliance with the written description
requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112, 1. The examiner has the initial burden,
after a thorough reading and evaluation of the content of the application,
of presenting evidence or reasons why a person skilled in the art would not
recognize that the written description of the invention provides support
for the claims. There is a strong presumption that an adequate written
description of the claimed invention is present in the specification as
filed; 24 however, with respect to newly added or amended claims,
applicant should show support in the original disclosure for the new or
amended claims. 25 Consequently, rejection of an original claim for lack of
written description should be rare. The inquiry into whether the
description requirement is met is a question of fact that must be
determined on a case-by-case basis. 26
1. For Each Claim, Determine What the Claim as a Whole Covers
Claim construction is an essential part of the examination process. Each
claim must be separately analyzed and given its broadest reasonable
interpretation in light of and consistent with the written description. 27
The entire claim must be considered, including the preamble language 28 and
the transitional phrase. 29 The claim as a whole, including all limitations
found in the preamble, 30 the transitional phrase, and the body of the
claim, must be sufficiently supported to satisfy the written description
requirement. 31
The examiner should evaluate each claim to determine if sufficient
structures, acts, or functions are recited to make clear the scope and
meaning of the claim, including the weight to be given the preamble.
32 The absence of definitions or details for well-established terms or
procedures should not be the basis of a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1,
for lack of adequate written description. Limitations may not, however, be
imported into the claims from the specification.
2. Review the Entire Application to Understand How Applicant Provides
Support for the Claimed Invention Including Each Element and/or Step
Prior to determining whether the disclosure satisfies the written
description requirement for the claimed subject matter, the examiner should
review the claims and the entire specification, including the specific
embodiments, figures, and sequence listings, to understand how applicant
provides support for the various features of the claimed invention. 33 The
analysis of whether the specification complies with the written description
requirement calls for the examiner to compare the scope of the claim with
the scope of the description to determine whether applicant has
demonstrated possession of the claimed invention. Such a review is
conducted from the standpoint of one of skill in the art at the time the
application was filed 34 and should include a determination of the
field of the invention and the level of skill and knowledge in the art.
Generally, there is an inverse correlation between the level of skill
and knowledge in the art and the specificity of disclosure necessary to
satisfy the written description requirement. Information which is well
known in the art need not be described in detail in the specification.
35
3. Determine Whether There is Sufficient Written Description to Inform a
Skilled Artisan That Applicant was in Possession of the Claimed Invention
as a Whole at the Time the Application Was Filed
a. Original claims. Possession may be shown in many ways. For example,
possession may be shown, inter alia, by describing an actual reduction to
practice of the claimed invention. Possession may also be shown by a clear
depiction of the invention in detailed drawings or in structural chemical
formulas which permit a person skilled in the art to clearly recognize that
applicant had possession of the claimed invention. An adequate written
description of the invention may be shown by any description of sufficient,
relevant, identifying characteristics so long as a person skilled in the
art would recognize that the inventor had possession of the claimed
invention. 36
A specification may describe an actual reduction to practice by showing
that the inventor constructed an embodiment or performed a process that
met all the limitations of the claim and determined that the invention
would work for its intended purpose. 37 Description of an actual reduction
to practice of a biological material may be shown by specifically
describing a deposit made in accordance with the requirements of 37 CFR
1.801 et seq. 38
An applicant may show possession of an invention by disclosure of
drawings 39 or structural chemical formulas 40 that are sufficiently
detailed to show that applicant was in possession of the claimed invention
as a whole. The description need only describe in detail that which is new
or not conventional. 41 This is equally true whether the claimed invention
is directed to a product or a process. An applicant may also show that an
invention is complete by disclosure of sufficiently detailed, relevant
identifying characteristics [4]2[ ]which provide evidence that applicant
was in possession of the claimed invention, 43 i.e., complete or partial
structure, other physical and/or chemical properties, functional
characteristics when coupled with a known or disclosed correlation
between function and structure, or some combination of such
characteristics. 44 What is conventional or well known to one of ordinary
skill in the art need not be disclosed in detail. 45 If a skilled artisan
would have understood the inventor to be in possession of the claimed
invention at the time of filing, even if every nuance of the claims is not
explicitly described in the specification, then the adequate description
requirement is met. 46
(1) For each claim drawn to a single embodiment or species: 47
(a) Determine whether the application describes an actual reduction to
practice of the claimed invention.
(b) If the application does not describe an actual reduction to
practice, determine whether the invention is complete as evidenced by a
reduction to drawings or structural chemical formulas that are sufficiently
detailed to show that applicant was in possession of the claimed invention
as a whole.
(c) If the application does not describe an actual reduction to
practice or reduction to drawings or structural chemical formula as
discussed above, determine whether the invention has been set forth in
terms of distinguishing identifying characteristics as evidenced by
other descriptions of the invention that are sufficiently detailed to
show that applicant was in possession of the claimed invention.
(i) Determine whether the application as filed describes the complete
structure (or acts of a process) of the claimed invention as a whole.
The complete structure of a species or embodiment typically satisfies
the requirement that the description be set forth `in such full,
clear, concise, and exact terms' to show possession of the claimed
invention. 48 If a complete structure is disclosed, the written description
requirement is satisfied for that species or embodiment, and a rejection
under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, for lack of written description must not be made.
(ii) If the application as filed does not disclose the complete
structure (or acts of a process) of the claimed invention as a whole,
determine whether the specification discloses other relevant identifying
characteristics sufficient to describe the claimed invention in such full,
clear, concise, and exact terms that a skilled artisan would recognize
applicant was in possession of the claimed invention. 49
Whether the specification shows that applicant was in possession of the
claimed invention is not a single, simple determination, but rather is
a factual determination reached by considering a number of factors.
Factors to be considered in determining whether there is sufficient
evidence of possession include the level of skill and knowledge in the
art, partial structure, physical and/or chemical properties, functional
characteristics alone or coupled with a known or disclosed correlation
between structure and function, and the method of making the claimed
invention. Disclosure of any combination of such identifying
characteristics that distinguish the claimed invention from other
materials and would lead one of skill in the art to the conclusion that
the applicant was in possession of the claimed species is sufficient.
50 Patents and printed publications in the art should be relied upon to
determine whether an art is mature and what the level of knowledge and
skill is in the art. In most technologies which are mature, and wherein the
knowledge and level of skill in the art is high, a written description
question should not be raised for original claims even if the specification
discloses only a method of making the invention and the function of the
invention. 51 In contrast, for inventions in emerging and unpredictable
technologies, or for inventions characterized by factors not reasonably
predictable which are known to one of ordinary skill in the art, more
evidence is required to show possession. For example, disclosure of only a
method of making the invention and the function may not be sufficient to
support a product claim other than a product-by-process claim. 52
Furthermore, disclosure of a partial structure without additional
characterization of the product may not be sufficient to evidence
possession of the claimed invention. 53
Any claim to a species that does not meet the test described under at
least one of (a), (b), or (c) must be rejected as lacking adequate
written description under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1.
(2) For each claim drawn to a genus:
The written description requirement for a claimed genus may be
satisfied through sufficient description of a representative number of
species by actual reduction to practice (see (1)(a), above), reduction
to drawings (see (1)(b), above), or by disclosure of relevant,
identifying characteristics, i.e., structure or other physical and/or
chemical properties, by functional characteristics coupled with a known or
disclosed correlation between function and structure, or by a combination
of such identifying characteristics, sufficient to show the applicant was
in possession of the claimed genus (see (1)(c), above). 54
A `representative number of species' means that the species which
are adequately described are representative of the entire genus. Thus,
when there is substantial variation within the genus, one must describe
a sufficient variety of species to reflect the variation within the
genus. On the other hand, there may be situations where one species
adequately supports a genus. 55 What constitutes a `representative number'
is an inverse function of the skill and knowledge in the art. Satisfactory
disclosure of a `representative number' depends on whether one of skill in
the art would recognize that the applicant was in possession of the
necessary common attributes or features of the elements possessed by the
members of the genus in view of the species disclosed. For inventions in an
unpredictable art, adequate written description of a genus which embraces
widely variant species cannot be achieved by disclosing only one species
within the genus. 56 Description of a representative number of species does
not require the description to be of such specificity that it would provide
individual support for each species that the genus embraces. 57 If a
representative number of adequately described species are not disclosed for
a genus, the claim to that genus must be rejected as lacking adequate
written description under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1.
b. New claims, amended claims, or claims asserting entitlement to the
benefit of an earlier priority date or filing date under 35 U.S.C. 119,
120, or 365(c). The examiner has the initial burden of presenting
evidence or reasoning to explain why persons skilled in the art would
not recognize in the original disclosure a description of the invention
defined by the claims. 58 However, when filing an amendment an applicant
should show support in the original disclosure for new or amended
claims. 59 To comply with the written description requirement of 35 U.S.C.
112, 1, or to be entitled to an earlier priority date or filing date under
35 U.S.C. 119, 120, or 365(c), each claim limitation must be expressly, 60
implicitly, 61 or inherently 62 supported in the originally filed
disclosure. 63 Furthermore, each claim must include all elements which
applicant has described as essential. 64
If the originally filed disclosure does not provide support for each
claim limitation, or if an element which applicant describes as
essential or critical is not claimed, a new or amended claim must be
rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, as lacking adequate written
description, or in the case of a claim for priority under 35 U.S.C.
119, 120, or 365(c), the claim for priority must be denied.
III. Complete Patentability Determination Under All Statutory Requirements
and Clearly Communicate Findings, Conclusions, and Their Bases
The above only describes how to determine whether the written
description requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, is satisfied. Regardless of
the outcome of that determination, Office personnel must complete the
patentability determination under all the relevant statutory provisions of
title 35 of the U.S. Code.
Once Office personnel have concluded analysis of the claimed invention
under all the statutory provisions, including 35 U.S.C. 101, 112, 102,
and 103, they should review all the proposed rejections and their bases
to confirm their correctness. Only then should any rejection be imposed
in an Office action. The Office action should clearly communicate the
findings, conclusions, and reasons which support them. When possible,
the Office action should offer helpful suggestions on how to overcome
rejections.
A. For Each Claim Lacking Written Description Support,
Reject the Claim Under Section 112, 1, for Lack of Adequate Written
Description
A description as filed is presumed to be adequate, unless or until
sufficient evidence or reasoning to the contrary has been presented by the
examiner to rebut the presumption. 65 The examiner, therefore, must have a
reasonable basis to challenge the adequacy of the written description. The
examiner has the initial burden of presenting by a preponderance of
evidence why a person skilled in the art would not recognize in an
applicant's disclosure a description of the invention defined by the
claims.[6]6[ ]In rejecting a claim, the examiner must set forth
express findings of fact regarding the above analysis which support the
lack of written description conclusion. These findings should:
(1) Identify the claim limitation at issue; and
(2) Establish a prima facie case by providing
reasons why a person skilled in the art at the time the application was
filed would not have recognized that the inventor was in possession of
the invention as claimed in view of the disclosure of the application
as filed. A general allegation of `unpredictability in the art' is
not a sufficient reason to support a rejection for lack of adequate
written description.
When appropriate, suggest amendments to the claims which can be
supported by the application's written description, being mindful of
the prohibition against the addition of new matter in the claims or
description. 67
B. Upon Reply by Applicant, Again Determine the Patentability of the
Claimed Invention, Including Whether the Written Description Requirement Is
Satisfied by Reperforming the Analysis Described Above in View of the Whole
Record
Upon reply by applicant, before repeating any rejection under
35 U.S.C. 112, 1, for lack of written description, review the basis
for the rejection in view of the record as a whole, including amendments,
arguments, and any evidence submitted by applicant. If the whole record now
demonstrates that the written description requirement is satisfied, do not
repeat the rejection in the next Office action. If the record still does
not demonstrate that the written description is adequate to support the
claim(s), repeat the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, fully respond to
applicant's rebuttal arguments, and properly treat any further showings
submitted by applicant in the reply. When a rejection is maintained, any
affidavits relevant to the 112, 1, written description requirement, 68
must be thoroughly analyzed and discussed in the next Office action.
December 29, 2000. Q. TODD DICKINSON,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual
Property and Director of the United States
Patent and Trademark Office
Endnotes
1 See, e.g., Vas-Cath, Inc. v. Mahurkar, 935 F.2d 1555, 1560, 19 USPQ2d
1111, 1114 (Fed. Cir. 1991).
2 In re Barker, 559 F.2d 588, 592 n.4, 194 USPQ 470, 473 n.4
(CCPA 1977).
3 See Regents of the University of California v. Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d
1559, 1566, 43 USPQ2d 1398, 1404 (Fed. Cir. 1997), cert. denied, 523 U.S.
1089 (1998).
4 See, e.g., Vas-Cath, Inc. v. Mahurkar, 935 F.2d at 1563, 19 USPQ2d at
1116. Much of the written description case law addresses whether the
specification as originally filed supports claims not originally in the
application. The issue raised in the cases is most often phrased as whether
the original application provides `adequate support' for the claims at
issue or whether the material added to the specification incorporates `new
matter' in violation of 35 U.S.C. 132. The `written description' question
similarly arises in the interference context, where the issue is whether
the specification of one party to the interference can support the newly
added claims corresponding to the count at issue, i.e., whether that party
can `make the claim' corresponding to the interference count. See, e.g.,
Martin v. Mayer, 823 F.2d 500, 503, 3 USPQ2d 1333, 1335 (Fed. Cir. 1987).
In addition, early opinions suggest the Patent and Trademark Office was
unwilling to find written descriptive support when the only description was
found in the claims; however, this viewpoint was rejected. See In re
Koller, 613 F.2d 819, 204 USPQ 702 (CCPA 1980) (original claims constitute
their own description); accord In re Gardner, 475 F.2d 1389, 177 USPQ 396
(CCPA 1973); accord In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257, 191 USPQ 90 (CCPA 1976)
(accord). It is now well accepted that a satisfactory description may
be in the claims or any other portion of the originally filed
specification. These early opinions did not address the quality or
specificity of particularity that was required in the description, i.e.,
how much description is enough.
5 Lockwood v. American Airlines, Inc., 107 F.3d 1565, 1572, 41 USPQ2d
1961, 1966 (Fed. Cir. 1997).
6 An application specification may show actual reduction to practice by
describing testing of the claimed invention or, in the case of biological
materials, by specifically describing a deposit made in accordance with 37
CFR 1.801 et seq. See also Deposit of Biological Materials for Patent
Purposes, Final Rule, 54 FR 34,864 (August 22, 1989) (`The requirement for
a specific identification is consistent with the description requirement
of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112, and to provide an antecedent
basis for the biological material which either has been or will be
deposited before the patent is granted.' Id. at 34,876. `The description
must be sufficient to permit verification that the deposited biological
material is in fact that disclosed. Once the patent issues, the description
must be sufficient to aid in the resolution of questions of infringement.'
Id. at 34,880.). Such a deposit is not a substitute for a written
description of the claimed invention. The written description of the
deposited material needs to be as complete as possible because the
examination for patentability proceeds solely on the basis of the written
description. See, e.g., In re Lundak, 773 F.2d 1216, 227 USPQ 90 (Fed.
Cir. 1985). See also 54 FR at 34,880 (`As a general rule, the more
information that is provided about a particular deposited biological
material, the better the examiner will be able to compare the identity and
characteristics of the deposited biological material with the prior art.').
7 Pfaff v. Wells Electronics, Inc., 525 U.S. 55, 68, 119 S.Ct. 304,
312, 48 USPQ2d 1641, 1647 (1998); Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1568, 43 USPQ2d
at 1406.
8 See Amgen, Inc. v. Chugai
Pharmaceutical, 927 F.2d 1200, 1206, 18 USPQ2d 1016, 1021 (Fed. Cir. 1991)
(one must define a compound by `whatever characteristics sufficiently
distinguish it').
9 A description requirement issue can arise for original claims (see,
e.g., Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d 1559, 43 USPQ2d 1398) as well as new or amended
claims. Most typically, the issue will arise in the context of determining
whether new or amended claims are supported by the description of the
invention in the application as filed (see, e.g., In re Wright, 866 F.2d
422, 9 USPQ2d 1649 (Fed. Cir. 1989)), whether a claimed invention is
entitled to the benefit of an earlier priority date or effective filing
date under 35 U.S.C. 119, 120, or 365(c) (see, e.g., Tronzo v. Biomet,
Inc., 156 F.3d 1154, 47 USPQ2d 1829 (Fed. Cir. 1998); Fiers v. Revel, 984
F.2d 1164, 25 USPQ2d 1601 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Ziegler, 992 F.2d 1197,
1200, 26 USPQ2d 1600, 1603 (Fed. Cir. 1993)), or whether a specification
provides support for a claim corresponding to a count in an interference
(see, e.g., Fields v. Conover, 443 F.2d 1386, 170 USPQ 276 (CCPA 1971)).
10 Vas-Cath, Inc. v. Mahurkar, 935 F.2d at 1563, 19 USPQ2d at 1116 (Fed.
Cir. 1991).
11 In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257, 263, 191 USPQ 90, 97 (CCPA 1976) (`we
are of the opinion that the PTO has the initial burden of presenting
evidence or reasons why persons skilled in the art would not recognize in
the disclosure a description of the invention defined by the claims').
12 See endnote 4.
13 For example, consider the claim `A gene comprising SEQ ID NO:1.' A
determination of what the claim as a whole covers may result in a
conclusion that specific structures such as a promoter, a coding region, or
other elements are included. Although all genes encompassed by this claim
share the characteristic of comprising SEQ ID NO:1, there may be
insufficient description of those specific structures (e.g., promoters,
enhancers, coding regions, and other regulatory elements) which are also
included.
14 A biomolecule sequence described only by a functional
characteristic, without any known or disclosed correlation between that
function and the structure of the sequence, normally is not a sufficient
identifying characteristic for written description purposes, even when
accompanied by a method of obtaining the claimed sequence. For example,
even though a genetic code table would correlate a known amino acid
sequence with a genus of coding nucleic acids, the same table cannot
predict the native, naturally occurring nucleic acid sequence of a
naturally occurring mRNA or its corresponding cDNA. Cf. In re Bell, 991
F.2d 781, 26 USPQ2d 1529 (Fed. Cir. 1993), and In re Deuel, 51 F.3d 1552,
34 USPQ2d 1210 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (holding that a process could not render
the product of that process obvious under 35 U.S.C. 103). The Federal
Circuit has pointed out that under United States law, a description that
does not render a claimed invention obvious cannot sufficiently describe
the invention for the purposes of the written description requirement of
35 U.S.C. 112. Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1567, 43 USPQ2d at 1405.
Compare Fonar Corp. v. General Electric Co., 107 F.3d 1543, 1549, 41
USPQ2d 1801, 1805 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (`As a general rule, where software
constitutes part of a best mode of carrying out an invention, description
of such a best mode is satisfied by a disclosure of the functions of the
software. This is because, normally, writing code for such software is
within the skill of the art, not requiring undue experimentation, once its
functions have been disclosed. * * * Thus, flow charts or source code
listings are not a requirement for adequately disclosing the functions of
software.').
15 See, e.g., Fujikawa v. Wattanasin, 93 F.3d 1559, 1571, 39 USPQ2d
1895, 1905 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (a `laundry list' disclosure of every possible
moiety does not constitute a written description of every species in a
genus because it would not `reasonably lead' those skilled in the art to
any particular species); In re Ruschig, 379 F.2d 990, 995, 154 USPQ 118,
123 (CCPA 1967) (`If n-propylamine had been used in making the
compound instead of n-butylamine, the compound of claim 13 would have
resulted. Appellants submit to us, as they did to the board, an imaginary
specific example patterned on specific example 6 by which the above butyl
compound is made so that we can see what a simple change would have
resulted in a specific supporting disclosure being present in the present
specification. The trouble is that there is no such disclosure, easy though
it is to imagine it.') (emphasis in original); Purdue Pharma L.P. v.
Faulding Inc., 230 F.3d 1320, 1328, 56 USPQ2d 1481, 1487 (Fed. Cir. 2000)
(`the specification does not clearly disclose to the skilled artisan that
the inventors * * * considered the [] ratio to be part of their invention
* * *. There is therefore no force to Purdue's argument that the written
description requirement was satisfied because the disclosure revealed a
broad invention from which the [later-filed] claims carved out a patentable
portion').
16 35 U.S.C. 132 and 251. See also In re Rasmussen, 650 F.2d 1212,
1214, 211 USPQ 323, 326 (CCPA 1981). See Manual of Patent Examining
Procedure (MPEP) 2163.06-2163.07 (7th Ed., Rev. 1, Feb. 2000) for a
more detailed discussion of the written description requirement and its
relationship to new matter.
17 The claims as filed in the original specification are part of the
disclosure and, therefore, if an application as originally filed contains a
claim disclosing material not found in the remainder of the specification,
the applicant may amend the specification to include the claimed subject
matter. In re Benno, 768 F.2d 1340, 226 USPQ 683 (Fed. Cir. 1985).
18 See, e.g., In re Lukach, 442 F.2d 967, 169 USPQ 795 (CCPA 19 71)
(subgenus range was not supported by generic disclosure and specific
example within the subgenus range); In re Smith, 458 F.2d 1389, 1395, 173
USPQ 679, 683 (CCPA 1972) (a subgenus is not necessarily described by a
genus encompassing it and a species upon which it reads).
19 In re Oda, 443 F.2d 1200, 170 USPQ 260 (CCPA 1971). With respect to
the correction of sequencing errors in applications disclosing nucleic acid
and/or amino acid sequences, it is well known that sequencing errors are a
common problem in molecular biology. See, e.g., Peter Richterich,
Estimation of Errors in `Raw' DNA Sequences: A Validation Study, 8 Genome
Research 251-59 (1998). If an application as filed includes sequence
information and references a deposit of the sequenced material made in
accordance with the requirements of 37 CFR 1.801 et seq., amendment may be
permissible.
20 Corrections of minor errors in the sequence may be possible based on
the argument that one of skill in the art would have resequenced the
deposited material and would have immediately recognized the minor error.
Deposits made after the filing date can only be relied upon to provide
support for the correction of sequence information if applicant submits a
statement in compliance with 37 CFR 1.804 stating that the biological
material which is deposited is a biological material specifically defined
in the application as filed.
21 See, e.g., Gentry Gallery, Inc. v. Berkline Corp., 134 F.3d 1473, 45
USPQ2d 1498 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (claims to a sectional sofa comprising, inter
alia, a console and a control means were held invalid for failing to
satisfy the written description requirement where the claims were broadened
by removing the location of the control means.); Johnson Worldwide
Associates v. Zebco Corp., 175 F.3d 985, 993, 50 USPQ2d 1607, 1613
(Fed. Cir. 1999) (In Gentry Gallery, the `court's determination that the
patent disclosure did not support a broad meaning for the disputed claim
terms was premised on clear statements in the written description that
described the location of a claim elementMthe `control means'Mas `the only
possible location' and that variations were `outside the stated purpose of
Gentry Gallery, 134 F.3d at 1479, 45 USPQ2d at 1503. Gentry Gallery, then,
considers the situation where the patent's disclosure makes crystal clear
that a particular (i.e., narrow) understanding of a claim term is an
`essential element of [the inventor's] invention.''); Tronzo v. Biomet, 156
F.3d at 1158-59, 47 USPQ2d at 1833 (Fed. Cir. 1998) (claims to generic cup
shape were not entitled to filing date of parent application which
disclosed `conical cup' in view of the disclosure of the parent application
stating the advantages and importance of the conical shape.).
22 See Gentry Gallery, 134 F.3d at 1480, 45 USPQ2d at 1503; In re Sus,
306 F.2d 494, 504, 134 USPQ 301, 309 (CCPA 1962) (`[O]ne skilled in this
art would not be taught by the written description of the invention in the
specification that any `aryl or substituted aryl radical' would be suitable
for the purposes of the invention but rather that only certain aryl
radicals and certain specifically substituted aryl radicals [i.e., aryl
azides] would be suitable for such purposes.') (emphasis in original). A
claim which omits matter disclosed to be essential to the invention as
described in the specification or in other statements of record may also be
subject to rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, as not enabling, or under 35
U.S.C. 112, 2. See In re Mayhew, 527 F.2d 1229, 188 USPQ 356 (CCPA 1976);
In re Venezia, 530 F.2d 956, 189 USPQ 149 (CCPA 1976); and In re
Collier, 397 F.2d 1003, 158 USPQ 266 (CCPA 1968). See also
MPEP 2172.01.
23 See, e.g., Vas-Cath, Inc., 935 F.2d at 1563-64, 19 USPQ2d at 1117.
24 Wertheim, 541 F.2d at 262, 191 USPQ at 96.
25 See MPEP 714.02 and 2163.06 (`Applicant should * * * specifically
point out the support for any amendments made to the disclosure.'); and
MPEP 2163.04 (`If applicant amends the claims and points out where and/or
how the originally filed disclosure supports the amendment(s), and the
examiner finds that the disclosure does not reasonably convey that the
inventor had possession of the subject matter of the amendment at the time
of the filing of the application, the examiner has the initial burden of
presenting evidence or reasoning to explain why persons skilled in the
art would not recognize in the disclosure a description of the invention
defined by the claims.').
26 See In re Smith, 458 F.2d 1389, 1395, 173 USPQ 679, 683 (CCPA 1972)
(`Precisely how close [to the claimed invention] the description must come
to comply with 112 must be left to case-by-case development.'); In re
Wertheim, 541 F.2d at 262, 191 USPQ at 96 (inquiry is primarily
factual and depends on the nature of the invention and the amount of
knowledge imparted to those skilled in the art by the disclosure).
27 See, e.g., In re Morris, 127 F.3d 1048, 1053-54, 44 USPQ2d 1023, 1027
(Fed. Cir. 1997).
28 `Preamble language' is that language in a claim appearing before the
transitional phase, e.g., before `comprising,' `consisting essentially of,'
or `consisting of.'
29 The transitional term `comprising' (and other comparable terms, e.g.,
`containing,' `including,' and `having') is `open-endedMit covers the
expressly recited subject matter, alone or in combination with unrecited
subject matter. See, e.g., Genentech, Inc. v. Chiron Corp., 112 F.3d 495,
501, 42 USPQ2d 1608, 1613 (Fed. Cir. 1997) (``Comprising' is a term of art
used in claim language which means that the na elements are essential, but
other elements may be added and still form a construct within the scope of
the claim.'); Ex parte Davis, 80 USPQ 448, 450 (Bd. App. 1948)
(`comprising' leaves the `claim open for the inclusion of unspecified
ingredients even in major amounts'). `By using the term `consisting
essentially of,' the drafter signals that the invention necessarily
includes the listed ingredients and is open to unlisted ingredients
that do not materially affect the basic and novel properties of the
invention. A `consisting essentially of' claim occupies a middle
ground between closed claims that are written in a `consisting of'
format and fully open claims that are drafted in a `comprising'
format.' PPG Industries v. Guardian Industries, 156 F.3d 1351, 1354, 48
USPQ2d 1351, 1353-54 (Fed. Cir. 1998). For the purposes of searching for
and applying prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103, absent a clear
indication in the specification or claimedms of what the basic and novel
characteristics actually are, `consisting essentially of' will be construed
as equivalent to `comprising.' See, e.g., PPG, 156 F.3d at 1355, 48 USPQ2d
at 1355 (`PPG could have defined the scope of the phrase `consisting
essentially of' for purposes of its patent by making clear in its
specification what it regarded as constituting a material change in the
basic and novel characteristics of the invention.'). See also In re
Janakirama-Rao, 317 F.2d 951, 954, 137 USPQ 893, 895-96 (CCPA 1963). If an
applicant contends that additional steps or materials in the prior art are
excluded by the recitation of `consisting essentially of,' applicant has
the burden of showing that the introduction of additional steps or
components would materially change the characteristics of applicant's
invention. In re De Lajarte, 337 F.2d 870, 143 USPQ 256 (CCPA 1964).
30 See Pac-Tec Inc. v. Amerace Corp., 903 F.2d 796, 801, 14 USPQ2d 1871,
1876 (Fed. Cir. 1990) (determining that preamble language that constitutes
a structural limitation is actually part of the claimed invention).
31 An applicant shows possession of the claimed invention by describing
the claimed invention with all of its limitations. Lockwood, 107 F.3d at
1572, 41 USPQ2d at 1966.
32 See, e.g., Bell Communications Research, Inc. v. Vitalink
Communications Corp., 55 F.3d 615, 620, 34 USPQ2d 1816, 1820 (Fed. Cir.
1995) (`[A] claim preamble has the import that the claim as a whole
suggests for it.'); Corning Glass Works v. Sumitomo Elec. U.S.A., Inc.,
868 F.2d 1251, 1257, 9 USPQ2d 1962, 1966 (Fed. Cir. 1989) (The
determination of whether preamble recitations are structural limitations
can be resolved only on review of the entirety of the application `to gain
an understanding of what the inventors actually invented and intended to
encompass by the claim.').
33 An element may be critical where those of skill in the art would
require it to determine that applicant was in possession of the invention.
Compare Rasmussen, 650 F.2d at 1215, 211 USPQ at 327 (`one skilled in the
art who read Rasmussen's specification would understand that it is
unimportant how the layers are adhered, so long as they are adhered')
(emphasis in original), with Amgen, Inc. v. Chugai Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd., 927 F.2d 1200, 1206, 18 USPQ2d 1016, 1021 (Fed. Cir. 1991) (`it is
well established in our law that conception of a chemical compound requires
that the inventor be able to define it so as to distinguish it from other
materials, and to describe how to obtain it').
34 See, e.g., Wang Labs. v. Toshiba Corp., 993 F.2d 858, 865, 26 USPQ2d
1767, 1774 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
35 See, e.g., Hybritech, Inc. v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc., 802 F.2d
1367, 1379-80, 231 USPQ 81, 90 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
36 See, e.g., Purdue Pharma L.P. v. Faulding Inc., 230 F.3d 1320, ___,
56 USPQ2d 1481, 1483 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (the written description `inquiry is
a factual one and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis'); see also
Pfaff v. Wells Electronics, Inc., 55 U.S. at 66, 119 S.Ct. at 311, 48
USPQ2d at 1646 (`The word `invention' must refer to a concept that is
complete, rather than merely one that is `substantially complete.' It
is true that reduction to practice ordinarily provides the best
evidence that an invention is complete. But just because reduction to
practice is sufficient evidence of completion, it does not follow that
proof of reduction to practice is necessary in every case. Indeed, both
the facts of the Telephone Cases and the facts of this case demonstrate
that one can prove that an invention is complete and ready for patenting
before it has actually been reduced to practice.').
37 Cooper v. Goldfarb, 154 F.3d 1321, 1327, 47 USPQ2d 1896, 1901 (Fed.
Cir. 1998). See also UMC Elecs. Co. v. United States, 816 F.2d 647, 652, 2
USPQ2d 1465, 1468 (Fed. Cir. 1987) (`[T]here cannot be a reduction to
practice of the invention * * * without a physical embodiment which
includes all limitations of the claimedm.'); Estee Lauder Inc. v.
L'Oreal, S.A., 129 F.3d 588, 593, 44 USPQ2d 1610, 1614 (Fed. Cir.
1997) (`[A] reduction to practice does not occur until the inventor
has determined that the invention will work for its intended
purpose.'); Mahurkar v. C.R. Bard, Inc., 79 F.3d 1572, 1578, 38 USPQ2d
1288, 1291 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (determining that the invention will work for
its intended purpose may require testing depending on the character of the
invention and the problem it solves).
38 37 CFR 1.804, 1.809. See also endnote 6.
39 See, e.g., Vas-Cath, 935 F.2d at 1565, 19 USPQ2d at 1118 (`drawings
alone may provide a `written description' of an invention as required by
112'); In re Wolfensperger, 302 F.2d 950, 133 USPQ 537 (CCPA 1962) (the
drawings of applicant's specification provided sufficient written
descriptive support for the claim limitation at issue); Autogiro Co. of
America v. United States, 384 F.2d 391, 398, 155 USPQ 697, 703 (Ct. Cl.
1967) (`In those instances where a visual representation can flesh out
words, drawings may be used in the same manner and with the same
limitations as the specification.').
40 See, e.g., Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1568, 43 USPQ2d at 1406 (`In claims
involving chemical materials, generic formulae usually indicate with
specificity what the generic claims encompass. One skilled in the art can
distinguish such a formula from others and can identify many of the species
that the claims encompass. Accordingly, such a formula is normally an
adequate description of the claimed genus.').
41 See Hybritech v. Monoclonal Antibodies, 802 F.2d at 1384, 231 USPQ at
94; Fonar Corp. v. General Electric Co., 107 F.3d at 1549, 41 USPQ2d at
1805 (source code description not required).
42 For example, the presence of a restriction enzyme map of a gene may
be relevant to a statement that the gene has been isolated. One skilled in
the art may be able to determine when the gene disclosed is the same as or
different from a gene isolated by another by comparing the restriction
enzyme map. In contrast, evidence that the gene could be digested with a
nuclease would not normally represent a relevant characteristic since any
gene would be digested with a nuclease. Similarly, isolation of an mRNA and
its expression to produce the protein of interest is strong evidence of
possession of an mRNA for the protein.
For some biomolecules, examples of identifying characteristics
include a sequence, structure, binding affinity, binding specificity,
molecular weight, and length. Although structural formulas provide a
convenient method of demonstrating possession of specific molecules,
other identifying characteristics or combinations of characteristics
may demonstrate the requisite possession. For example, unique cleavage
by particular enzymes, isoelectric points of fragments, detailed
restriction enzyme maps, a comparison of enzymatic activities, or
antibody cross-reactivity may be sufficient to show possession of the
claimed invention to one of skill in the art. See Lockwood, 107 F.3d at
1572, 41 USPQ2d at 1966 (`written description' requirement may be satisfied
by using `such descriptive means as words, structures, figures, diagrams,
formulas, etc., that fully set forth the claimed invention').
43 A definition by function alone `does not suffice' to sufficiently
describe a coding sequence `because it is only an indication of what the
gene does, rather than what it is.' Eli Lilly, 119 F.3 at 1568, 43 USPQ2d
at 1406. See also Fiers, 984 F.2d at 1169-71, 25 USPQ2d at 1605-06
(discussing Amgen Inc. v. Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., 927 F.2d 1200, 18
USPQ2d 1016 (Fed. Cir. 1991)).
44 If a claim limitation invokes 35 U.S.C. 112, 6, it must be
interpreted to cover the corresponding structure, materials, or acts in the
specification and `equivalents thereof.' See 35 U.S.C. 112, 6. See also
B. Braun Medical, Inc. v. Abbott Lab., 124 F.3d 1419, 1424, 43 USPQ2d 1896,
1899 (Fed. Cir. 1997). In considering whether there is 35 U.S.C. 112, 1,
support for a means- (or step) plus-function claim limitation, the
examiner must consider not only the original disclosure contained in
the summary and detailed description of the invention portions of the
specification, but also the original claims, abstract, and drawings. A
means- (or step-) plus-function claim limitation is adequately
described under 35 U.S.C. 112, 1, if: (1) The written description
adequately links or associates adequately described particular
structure, material, or acts to the function recited in a means- (or
step-) plus-function claim limitation; or (2) it is clear based on the
facts of the application that one skilled in the art would have known
what structure, material, or acts perform the function recited in a
means- (or step-) plus- function limitation. Note also: A rejection
under 35 U.S.C. 112, 2, `cannot stand where there is adequate
description in the specification to satisfy 35 U.S.C. 112, first
paragraph, regarding means-plus-function recitations that are not, per
se, challenged for being unclear.' In re Noll, 545 F.2d 141, 149, 191 USPQ
721, 727 (CCPA 1976). See Supplemental Examination Guidelines for
Determining the Applicability of 35 U.S.C. 112, 6, 65 FR 38510, June 21,
2000.
45 See Hybritech Inc. v. Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc., 802 F.2d at 1384,
231 USPQ at 94.
46 See, e.g., Vas-Cath, 935 F.2d at 1563, 19 USPQ2d at 1116; Martin v.
Johnson, 454 F.2d 746,751, 172 USPQ 391, 395 (CCPA 1972) (stating `the
description need not be in ipsis verbis [i.e., `in the same words'] to be
sufficient').
47 A claim which is limited to a single disclosed embodiment or species
is analyzed as a claim drawn to a single embodiment or species, whereas a
claim which encompasses two or more embodiments or species within the scope
of the claim is analyzed as a claim drawn to a genus. See also MPEP
806.04(e).
48 35 U.S.C. 112, 1. Cf. Fields v. Conover, 443 F.2d 1386, 1392, 170
USPQ 276, 280 (CCPA 1971) (finding a lack of written description because
the specification lacked the `full, clear, concise, and exact written
description' which is necessary to support the claimed invention).
49 For example, if the art has established a strong correlation between
structure and function, one skilled in the art would be able to predict
with a reasonable degree of confidence the structure of the claimed
invention from a recitation of its function. Thus, the written description
requirement may be satisfied through disclosure of function and minimal
structure when there is a well-established correlation between structure
and function. In contrast, without such a correlation, the capability to
recognize or understand the structure from the mere recitation of function
and minimal structure is highly unlikely. In this latter case, disclosure
of function alone is little more than a wish for possession; it does
not satisfy the written description requirement. See Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at
1568, 43 USPQ2d at 1406 (written description requirement not satisfied by
merely providing `a result that one might achieve if one made that
invention'); In re Wilder, 736 F.2d 1516, 1521, 222 USPQ 369, 372-73 (Fed.
Cir. 1984) (affirming a rejection for lack of written description because
the specification does `little more than outline goals appellants hope the
claimed invention achieves and the problems the invention will hopefully
ameliorate'). Compare Fonar, 107 F.3d at 1549, 41 USPQ2d at 1805
(disclosure of software function adequate in that art).
50 See Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1568, 43 USPQ2d at 1406.
51 See, e.g., In re Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. Patent
Litigation, 982 F.2d 1527, 1534-35, 25 USPQ2d 1241, 1246 (Fed. Cir. 1992)
(`One skilled in the art would know how to program a microprocessor to
perform the necessary steps described in the specification. Thus, an
inventor is not required to describe every detail of his invention. An
applicant's disclosure obligation varies according to the art to which the
invention pertains. Disclosing a microprocessor capable of performing
certain functions is sufficient to satisfy the requirement of section 112,
first paragraph, when one skilled in the relevant art would understand what
is intended and know how to carry it out.')
52 See, e.g., Fiers v. Revel, 984 F.2d at 1169, 25 USPQ2d at 1605;
Amgen., 927 F.2d at 1206, 18 USPQ2d at1021. Where the process has actually
been used to produce the product, the written description requirement for a
product-by-process claim is clearly satisfied; however, the requirement may
not be satisfied where it is not clear that the acts set forth in the
specification can be perfor, or that the product is produced by that
process.
53 See, e.g., Amgen, 927 F.2d at 1206, 18 USPQ2d at 1021 (`A gene is a
chemical compound, albeit a complex one, and it is well established in our
law that conception of a chemical compound requires that the inventor be
able to define it so as to distinguish it from other materials, and to
describe how to obtain it. Conception does not occur unless one has a
mental picture of the structure of the chemical, or is able to define it by
its method of preparation, its physical or chemical properties, or whatever
characteristics sufficiently distinguish it. It is not sufficient to
define it solely by its principal biological property, e.g., encoding human
erythropoietin, because an alleged conception having no more specificity
than that is simply a wish to know the identity of any material with that
biological property. We hold that when an inventor is unable to envision
the detailed constitution of a gene so as to distinguish it from other
materials, as well as a method for obtaining it, conception has not been
achieved until reduction to practice has occurred, i.e., until after the
gene has been isolated.') (citations omitted). In such instances the
alleged conception fails not merely because the field is unpredictable or
because of the general uncertainty surrounding experimental sciences, but
because the conception is incomplete due to factual uncertainty that
undermines the specificity of the inventor's idea of the invention.
Burroughs Wellcome Co. v. Barr Laboratories Inc., 40 F.3d 1223, 1229, 32
USPQ2d 1915, 1920 (Fed. Cir. 1994). Reduction to practice in effect
provides the only evidence to corroborate conception (and therefore
possession) of the invention. Id.
54 See Eli Lilly, 119 F.3d at 1568, 43 USPQ2d at 1406.
55 See, e.g., Rasmussen, 650 F.2d at 1214, 211 USPQ at 326-27
(disclosure of a single method of adheringly applying one layer to another
was sufficient to support a generic claim to `adheringly applying' because
one skilled in the art reading the specification would understand that it
is unimportant how the layers are adhered, so long as they are adhered); In
re Herschler, 591 F.2d 693, 697, 200 USPQ 711, 714 (CCPA 1979) (disclosure
of corticosteriod in DMSO sufficient to support claims drawn to a method
of using a mixture of a `physiologically active steroid' and DMSO because
`use of known chemical compounds in a manner auxiliary to the invention
must have a corresponding written description only so specific as to lead
one having ordinary skill in the art to that class of compounds.
Occasionally, a functional recitation of those known compounds in the
specification may be sufficient as that description.'); In re Smythe, 480
F.2d 1376, 1383, 178 USPQ 279, 285 (CCPA 1973) (the phrase `air or other
gas which is inert to the liquid' was sufficient to support a claim to
`inert fluid ia' because the description of the properties and functions
of the air or other gas segmentizing ium would suggest to a person
skilled in the art that appellant's invention includes the use of
`inert fluid' broadly.). However, in Tronzo v. Biomet, 156 F.3d at 1159, 47
USPQ2d at1833 (Fed. Cir. 1998), the disclosure of a species in the parent
application did not suffice to provide written description support for the
genus in the child application.
56 See, e.g., Eli Lilly.
57 For example, in the molecular biology arts, if an applicant disclosed
an amino acid sequence, it would be unnecessary to provide an explicit
disclosure of nucleic acid sequences that encoded the amino acid sequence.
Since the genetic code is widely known, a disclosure of an amino acid
sequence would provide sufficient information such that one would accept
that an applicant was in possession of the full genus of nucleic acids
encoding a given amino acid sequence, but not necessarily any particular
species. Cf. In re Bell, 991 F.2d 781, 785, 26 USPQ2d 1529, 1532 (Fed. Cir.
1993) and In re Baird, 16 F.3d 380, 382, 29 USPQ2d 1550, 1552 (Fed. Cir.
1994).
58 See Wertheim, 541 F.2d at 263, 191 USPQ at 97 (`[T]he PTO has the
initial burden of presenting evidence or reasons why persons skilled in the
art would not recognize in the disclosure a description of the invention
defined by the claims.').
59 See MPEP 714.02 and 2163.06 (`Applicant should * * * specifically
point out the support for any amendments made to the disclosure.').
60 See, e.g., In re Wright, 866 F.2d 422, 425, 9 USPQ2d 1649, 1651 (Fed.
Cir. 1989) (Original specification for method of forming images using
photosensitive microcapsules which describes removal of microcapsules from
surface and warns that capsules not be disturbed prior to formation of
image, unequivocally teaches absence of permanently fixed microcapsules and
supports amended language of claims requiring that microcapsules be `not
permanently fixed' to underlying surface, and therefore meets description
requirement of 35 U.S.C. 112.).
61 See, e.g., In re Robins, 429 F.2d 452, 456-57, 166 USPQ 552, 555
(CCPA 1970) (`[W]here no explicit description of a generic invention is to
be found in the specification * * * mention of representative compounds may
provide an implicit description upon which to base generic claim
language.'); In re Smith, 458 F.2d 1389, 1395, 173 USPQ 679, 683 (CCPA
1972) (a subgenus is not necessarily implicitly described by a genus
encompassing it and a species upon which it reads).
62 See, e.g., In re Robertson, 169 F.3d 743, 745, 49 USPQ2d 1949,
1950-51 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (`To establish inherency, the extrinsic evidence
`must make clear that the missing descriptive matter is necessarily present
in the thing described in the reference, and that it would be so recognized
by persons of ordinary skill. Inherency, however, may not be established by
probabilities or possibilities. The mere fact that a certain thing may
result from a given set of circumstances is not sufficient.'') (citations
omitted).
63 When an explicit limitation in a claim `is not present in the written
description whose benefit is sought it must be shown that a person of
ordinary skill would have understood, at the time the patent application
was filed, that the description requires that limitation.' Hyatt v. Boone,
146 F.3d 1348, 1353, 47 USPQ2d 1128, 1131 (Fed. Cir. 1998).
64 See, e.g., Johnson Worldwide Associates Inc. v. Zebco Corp., 175 F.3d
at 993, 50 USPQ2d at 1613; Gentry Gallery, Inc. v. Berkline Corp., 134 F.3d
at 1479, 45 USPQ2d at 1503; Tronzo v. Biomet, 156 F.3d at 1159, 47 USPQ2d
at 1833.
65 See, e.g., In re Marzocchi, 439 F.2d 220, 224, 169 USPQ 367, 370
(CCPA 1971).
66 Wertheim, 541 F.2d at 263, 191 USPQ at 97.
67 See Rasmussen, 650 F.2d at 1214, 211 USPQ at 326.
68 See In re Alton, 76 F.3d 1168, 1176, 37 USPQ2d 1578, 1584 (Fed. Cir.
1996).