申請人及發明人主體（一）

申請人及發明人主體（inventorship entity）（一）

35 U.S.C. 111：An application for patent shall be made, or authorized to be made, by the inventor, except as otherwise provided in this title.

相異於臺灣專利法，美國專利法35 U.S.C. 111規定：專利的申請案，必須由發明人或由發明人授權申請。

不過，該條還有其他的但書，如

35 U.S.C. 117：Legal representatives of deceased inventors and of those under legal incapacity may make application for patent upon compliance with the requirements and on the same terms and conditions applicable to the inventor.

發明人去逝或無法律上的行為能力，則可由合法代表人進行專利申請。

35 U.S.C. 118：Whenever an inventor （1）refuses to execute an application for patent, or （2）cannot be found or reached after diligent effort, a person to whom the inventor has assigned or agreed in writing to assign the invention or who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter justifying such action, may make application for patent on behalf of and as agent for the inventor on proof of the pertinent facts and a showing that such action is necessary to preserve the rights of the parties or to prevent irreparable damage; and the Director may grant a patent to such inventor upon such notice to him as the Director deems sufficient, and on compliance with such regulations as he prescribes.

當（1）發明人拒絕、或是（2）經勤勉努力尚無法找到發明人時，則具足夠之所有權利益的人（包括受讓人、發明人已同意受讓的人、專利權所有人）可以進行專利申請。

Judge Rich noted that this "completely ignores the requirement that patents are applied for 'in the name of the actual inventor or inventors' according to 37 C.F.R. Section 1.41(a) (1983)." "The inventor(s) must submit an oath or declaration attesting that they have 'reviewed and understand[ ] the contents of the specification' and believe 'the named inventor or inventors to be the original and first inventor or inventors of the subject matter which is claimed and for which a patent is sought.' 37 C.F.R. Section 1.63(b)(1), (2) (1992); see also 37 C.F.R. Section 1.51(a)(2) (1992)（資料來源）

發明人必須提交oath or declaration證實他們已復審及了解說明書內容，必且相信他們為原始發明人、且為第一個發明該發明的人。

另外，為提早取得申請日，oath or declaration可以於申請後再提交，不必與說明書同時提交。