# MPEP § 716: Affidavits or Declarations Under 37 CFR 1.132 and Other Evidence Traversing Rejections

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S716

## Section

- **Citation:** MPEP § 716
- **Heading:** Affidavits or Declarations Under 37 CFR 1.132 and Other Evidence Traversing Rejections
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** USPTO MPEP / Chapter 0700 - Examination of Applications / MPEP § 716

## Text

37 CFR 1.132  Affidavits or declarations traversing rejections or objections.
When any claim of an application or a patent under reexamination is
rejected or objected to, any evidence submitted to traverse the rejection or objection
on a basis not otherwise provided for must be by way of an oath or declaration under
this section.
It is the responsibility of the primary examiner to personally review and
decide whether affidavits or declarations under
37 CFR 1.132
and other evidence
submitted for the purpose of traversing grounds of rejection are responsive to the
rejection and present sufficient facts to overcome the rejection. Publications may be
evidence of the facts at issue and should be considered to the extent that they are
probative and properly submitted. See
MPEP § 716.01
et seq
.
This rule sets forth the general policy of the Office consistently followed
for a long period of time of receiving affidavit evidence traversing rejections or
objections. All affidavits or declarations presented which do not fall within or under
other specific rules are to be treated or considered as falling under this rule.
An affidavit is a statement in writing made under oath
before a notary public, magistrate, or officer authorized to administer oaths. See
MPEP §
602
et seq.
for additional information regarding formal requirements of
affidavits.
37 CFR 1.68
permits a declaration to be
used instead of an affidavit. The declaration must include an acknowledgment by the
declarant that willful false statements and the like are punishable by fine or
imprisonment, or both (
18
U.S.C. 1001
) and may jeopardize the validity of the application or
any patent issuing thereon. The declarant must set forth in the body of the declaration
that all statements made of the declarant’s own knowledge are true and that all statements
made on information and belief are believed to be true
nt that willful false statements and the like are punishable by fine or
imprisonment, or both (
18
U.S.C. 1001
) and may jeopardize the validity of the application or
any patent issuing thereon. The declarant must set forth in the body of the declaration
that all statements made of the declarant’s own knowledge are true and that all statements
made on information and belief are believed to be true.
Form paragraph
7.65
or
7.66
and any of form paragraphs
7.66.01
through
7.66.05
, as appropriate,
should be used to comment on a
37 CFR 1.132
affidavit or
declaration.

## Nearby sections

- [MPEP § 701 Statutory Authority for Examination](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S701.md)
- [MPEP § 702 Requisites of the Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S702.md)
- [MPEP § 702.01 Obviously Informal Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S702.01.md)
- [MPEP § 703 [Reserved]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S703.md)
- [MPEP § 704.01 Search](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.01.md)
- [MPEP § 704.10 Requirements for Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.10.md)
- [MPEP § 704.11 What Information May Be Required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.11.md)
- [MPEP § 704.11(a) Examples of Information Reasonably Required](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.11(a).md)
- [MPEP § 704.11(b) When May a Requirement for Information Be Made](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.11(b).md)
- [MPEP § 704.12 Replies to a Requirement for Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12.md)
- [MPEP § 704.12(a) Relationship of Requirement for Information to Duty of Disclosure](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12(a).md)
- [MPEP § 704.12(b) What Constitutes a Complete Reply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12(b).md)
- [MPEP § 704.12(c) Treatment of an Incomplete Reply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.12(c).md)
- [MPEP § 704.13 Time Periods for Reply](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S704.13.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/MPEP_S716. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.