Definition
The specification is the part of a patent application that describes the invention in enough detail to enable a skilled person to make and use it, and it supports the claims.
Why It Matters Legally
The specification anchors everything. Claims cannot cover more than the specification supports, and an inadequate description can invalidate a patent. A strong specification gives room to amend claims during prosecution and litigation.
Example Use Case
An inventor’s specification describes every component and step of a new manufacturing process so thoroughly that an engineer could reproduce it from the document alone.
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Related Terms
Patent Claim, Enablement, Written Description, Patent Application