Legal Definitions - lack of enablement

Definition: Lack of enablement refers to the quality of a patent application's specification that is not clear or complete enough to teach a person skilled in the art how to make and use the invention without undue experimentation.

For example, if a patent application for a new type of engine does not provide enough information on how to build and operate the engine, it may be considered lacking in enablement. This means that someone skilled in the art would have to conduct extensive experimentation to figure out how to make and use the engine, which is not practical or efficient.

Another example could be a patent application for a new drug that does not provide enough information on how to synthesize the drug or how it interacts with the body. This lack of enablement could prevent others from being able to use the drug effectively or safely.

In summary, lack of enablement is a problem in patent applications when they do not provide enough information for someone skilled in the art to make and use the invention without undue experimentation.