What type of mistake can a Certificate of Correction address regarding inventorship?

A Certificate of Correction can be utilized to rectify clerical mistakes in a patent application or issued patent where sufficient proof of the facts is provided. This process is in line with the purpose of the Certificate of Correction, which is to fix errors that do not affect the substantive nature of the patent, such as misidentification of the inventor or typographical errors.

When it comes to inventorship, the Certificate of Correction allows for the amendment to be made, provided that there is clear evidence demonstrating the correct inventorship. For example, if an inventor's name was incorrectly stated due to a typographical error, this could be corrected if the appropriate documentation, such as an assignment or corroborating evidence, is submitted showing who the true inventor is.

Addressing the other options: while clerical errors can be corrected, the process specifically requires proof of facts to support the change; thus, simply stating that clerical errors are sufficient without proof is inadequate. Direct changes without proof are not permissible, as the USPTO requires verification of the information being amended. Additionally, a Certificate of Correction cannot be used to submit new claims; it is strictly meant for the correction of existing mistakes rather than the addition or alteration of the content in a substantive manner.