What documentation is necessary to "swear back" your invention date?

To "swear back" to an earlier invention date, it is essential to provide an affidavit or declaration that substantiates the earlier date of conception or reduction to practice. This documentation serves as a formal statement that presents evidence of when the invention was conceived and how it progressed to a point where it could be considered completed for patent purposes.

The affidavit or declaration is a critical component because it must establish corroborating evidence that can support the claim of an earlier date. This often involves detailing the circumstances surrounding the creation of the invention, including witness testimonies or documentation that can validate the timeline.

The other choices, while they may involve aspects of the patent or application process, do not adequately satisfy the requirement to formally assert an earlier date of invention. Thus, an affidavit or declaration provides the specific legal framework needed to "swear back" an inventor's date in relation to competing claims or prior art.