Legal Definitions - incorporation by reference

Definition:Incorporation by reference is a method of making a secondary document part of a primary document by including in the primary document a statement that the secondary document should be treated as if it were contained within the primary one.

For example, in a contract, a document can be incorporated by reference if it is referred to and described in the contract in such a way that the document's identity is clear beyond doubt. This means that the secondary document becomes a part of the contract and is legally binding.

In patents, incorporation by reference is the explicit inclusion in one patent application of information already contained in another document, such as another patent or patent application. This is often used in a continuing application to cite the disclosure contained in a parent application.

Overall, incorporation by reference is a way to include important information from one document into another document without having to repeat it all over again. It is important to make sure that the secondary document is clearly identified and described in the primary document to avoid any confusion or legal issues.