MPEP Section 2404.03, Reference to a Deposit in the Specification

Executive summary:

This document contains Section 2404.03 ("Reference to a Deposit in the Specification") of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (the "M.P.E.P."), Eighth Edition, Eighth Revision (July 2010). This page was last updated in January 2011. You may return to the section index to find a particular section. Alternatively, you may search the MPEP using the search box that appears on the left side of every page of BitLaw--you may restrict your search to the MPEP on the search results page.

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2404.03 Reference to a Deposit in the Specification

37 CFR 1.802(c) specifically provides that the mere reference to a biological material in the specification disclosure or the actual deposit of such material does not create any presumption that such referenced or deposited material is necessary to satisfy 35 U.S.C. 112, or that a deposit in accordance with these regulations is or was required. It should be noted, however, that a reference to a biological material, present in an application upon filing, may form the basis for making a deposit, where required, after the filing date of a given application but that the reference to the biological material, itself, cannot be added after filing without risking the prohibited introduction of new matter ( 35 U.S.C. 132). See the discussion of the Lundak application in MPEP § 2406.01.