A model title page for patent specifications

Abstract

Within FID/PD and the corresponding national organisations, the idea of a model patent specification has been discussed for some years. Such a specification could serve as a model for patent documents in design, form and content and could be used whenever patent offices plan to make changes in the layout of their specifications. Controversial, though valid viewpoints for the drafting of claims and description exist. Therefore it seemed expedient to begin with the presentation of a title page. This publication and its discussion could help to reach a consensus about the indispensable and desirable data of the title page. We have tried to establish for every data element why it should be located just at that place, to give suggestions about the absolute or relative size of type the different elements have, and to indicate how they should be formally designed. The relevant WIPO standards have been taken into consideration and will be referred to, respectively. Of course, not all of our proposals follow the present practice of patent offices.