{"abstract":"This guidance will assist United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) personnel in the examination of claims in patent applications that contain functional language, particularly patent applications where functional language is used to claim computer- implemented inventions. Part I of this guidance addresses issues related to the examination of computer-implemented functional claims having means-plus-function limitations. Part II of this guidance addresses written description and enablement issues related to the examination of computer-implemented functional claims that recite only the idea of a solution or outcome to a problem but fail to recite details of how the solution or outcome is accomplished.","action":"Examination guidance; request for comments.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE","name":"Commerce Department","id":54,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/commerce-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/54","parent_id":null,"slug":"commerce-department"},{"raw_name":"United States Patent and Trademark Office","name":"Patent and Trademark Office","id":402,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/patent-and-trademark-office","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/402","parent_id":54,"slug":"patent-and-trademark-office"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2019/01/07/2018-28283.html","cfr_references":[],"citation":"84 FR 57","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Applicable Date: The Computer-Implemented Functional Claim Limitations Guidance is effective on January 7, 2019. The Computer- Implemented Functional Claim Limitations Guidance applies to all applications, and to all patents resulting from applications, filed before, on or after January 7, 2019.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["Docket No. PTO-P-2018-0059"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2018-28283","effective_on":"2019-01-07","end_page":63,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"explanation":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2019/01/07/2018-28283.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/01/07/2018-28283/examining-computer-implemented-functional-claim-limitations-for-compliance-with-35-usc-112","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2018-28283?publication_date=2019-01-07","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2019-01-07/2018-28283/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":7,"page_views":{"count":7872,"last_updated":"2026-04-04 12:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2019-01-07/pdf/2018-28283.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2018-28283.pdf?1546609513","publication_date":"2019-01-07","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2019/01/07/2018-28283.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{},"regulation_id_numbers":[],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=PTO-P-2018-0059","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"PTO-P-2018-0059","regulation_id_number":null,"title":"Examining Computer-Implemented Functional Claim Limitations for Compliance with 35 U.S.C. 112","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2019-01-27T11:00:16Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":null,"signing_date":null,"start_page":57,"subtype":null,"title":"Examining Computer-Implemented Functional Claim Limitations for Compliance With 35 U.S.C. 112","toc_doc":"Examining Computer-Implemented Functional Claim Limitations for Compliance","toc_subject":"Guidance:","topics":[],"type":"Notice","volume":84}