Legal Definitions - undue multiplicity of claims

Definition: Undue multiplicity of claims refers to an excessive number of claims in a patent application that are essentially duplicative and do not differ significantly in scope. Each claim must differ materially from the others.

Example: In a patent application for a new type of smartphone, the applicant submits 50 claims that all describe the same basic features and functions. This would be considered undue multiplicity of claims because the claims are essentially duplicative and do not differ significantly in scope.

Explanation: The example illustrates how undue multiplicity of claims can occur in a patent application. In this case, the applicant has submitted an excessive number of claims that all describe the same basic invention. This can make it difficult for patent examiners to determine the scope of the invention and can lead to unnecessary delays in the patent application process.