Legal Definitions - sufficiency of disclosure

Definition: Sufficiency of disclosure refers to the requirement that a patent application must provide enough detailed information to enable a person skilled in the relevant field to make and use the claimed invention. This includes disclosing the best way the inventor knows to make and use the invention, as well as showing that the inventor was in full possession of the claimed invention on the application's filing date.

For example, if someone invents a new type of battery, they must provide enough information in their patent application to allow someone else to make and use the battery without undue experimentation. This includes disclosing the materials and methods used to create the battery, as well as any potential variations or modifications that could be made.

If a patent application fails to meet the sufficiency of disclosure requirement, it may be rejected or invalidated. This is because the purpose of a patent is to encourage innovation by providing a limited monopoly to the inventor in exchange for disclosing their invention to the public. If the disclosure is insufficient, the public cannot benefit from the invention and the patent is not fulfilling its intended purpose.