Does an oath or declaration always require identifying each inventor by legal name?

The correct response indicates that it is not always necessary to identify each inventor by legal name, specifically if this information is provided in an Application Data Sheet (ADS). An ADS allows for the designation of inventors in a more streamlined manner, including the option to list their names and other relevant details without the need to include them as part of the oath or declaration itself.

In patent law, while the oath or declaration typically requires the inventor(s) to affirm their contribution to the invention, the specifics regarding how inventors are identified can vary based on the documents submitted. When inventors are clearly identified in an ADS, that satisfies the requirement, thus allowing the oath or declaration to provide just a general assertion that they are the inventors without reiterating each legal name.

This understanding clarifies the flexibility provided under USPTO regulations concerning the identification of inventors in patent filings and outlines the accepted practices for formal submissions.