# 37 C.F.R. § 1.42 (2026): Applicant for patent

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_42

## Section

- **Citation:** 37 C.F.R. § 1.42 (2026)
- **Heading:** Applicant for patent
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 37 CFR: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights / Chapter I: UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE / Part 1: RULES OF PRACTICE IN PATENT CASES / Subpart B: National Processing Provisions / § 1.42: § 1.42   Applicant for patent.

## Text

(a) The word “applicant” when used in this title refers to the inventor or all of the joint inventors, or to the person applying for a patent as provided in §§ 1.43, 1.45, or 1.46.
(b) If a person is applying for a patent as provided in § 1.46, the word “applicant” refers to the assignee, the person to whom the inventor is under an obligation to assign the invention, or the person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter, who is applying for a patent under § 1.46 and not the inventor.
(c) If fewer than all joint inventors are applying for a patent as provided in § 1.45, the phrase “the applicant” means the joint inventors who are applying for the patent without the omitted inventor(s).
(d) Any person having authority may deliver an application and fees to the Office on behalf of the applicant. However, an oath or declaration, or substitute statement in lieu of an oath or declaration, may be executed only in accordance with § 1.63 or 1.64, a correspondence address may be provided only in accordance with § 1.33(a), and amendments and other papers must be signed in accordance with § 1.33(b).
(e) The Office may require additional information where there is a question concerning ownership or interest in an application, and a showing may be required from the person filing the application that the filing was authorized where such authorization comes into question.
[77 FR 48815, Aug. 14, 2012]

## Nearby sections

- [37 C.F.R. § 1.31 (2026) § 1.31   Applicant and patent owner may be represented by one or more patent practitioners or joint inventors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_31.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.32 (2026) § 1.32   Power of attorney.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_32.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.33 (2026) § 1.33   Correspondence respecting patent applications, patent reexamination proceedings, and other proceedings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_33.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.34 (2026) § 1.34   Acting in a representative capacity.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_34.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.36 (2026) § 1.36   Revocation of power of attorney; withdrawal of patent attorney or agent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_36.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.41 (2026) § 1.41   Inventorship.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_41.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.42 (2026) § 1.42   Applicant for patent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_42.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.43 (2026) § 1.43   Application for patent by a legal representative of a deceased or legally incapacitated inventor.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_43.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.45 (2026) § 1.45   Application for patent by joint inventors.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_45.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.46 (2026) § 1.46   Application for patent by an assignee, obligated assignee, or a person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_46.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.48 (2026) § 1.48   Correction of inventorship pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 116 or correction of the name or order of names in a patent application, other than a reissue application.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_48.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.51 (2026) § 1.51   General requisites of an application.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_51.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.52 (2026) § 1.52   Language, paper, writing, margins, read-only optical disc specifications.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_52.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 1.53 (2026) § 1.53   Application number, filing date, and completion of application.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_53.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P1_S1_42. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.