37 CFR § 41.12 - Citation of authority.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t37/s41.12"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "37 CFR § 41.12 - Citation of authority."
title_number: 37
title_name: "Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights"
section_number: "41.12"
section_name: "Citation of authority."
chapter_name: "UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "41"
part_name: "PRACTICE BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 3(a)(2)(A), 21, 23, 32, 41, 134, 135, and Public Law 112-29."
regulatory_source: "69 FR 50003, Aug. 12, 2004, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "41"
---


# 41.12 Citation of authority.

(a) For any United States Supreme Court decision, citation to the United States Reports is preferred.

(b) For any decision other than a United States Supreme Court decision, citation to the West Reporter System is preferred.

(c) Citations to authority must include pinpoint citations whenever a specific holding or portion of an authority is invoked.

(d) Non-binding authority should be used sparingly. If the authority is not an authority of the Office and is not reproduced in the United States Reports or the West Reporter System, a copy of the authority should be provided.

[76 FR 72296, Nov. 22, 2011]