Since the skilled person is presumed to have the general technical background knowledge appropriate to the art, the examining division does not require the applicant to insert anything in the nature of a treatise or research report or explanatory matter which is obtainable from textbooks or is otherwise well-known. Likewise the examining division does not require a detailed description of the content of cited prior documents.

WALTON Herrmann, Microwave Quantum Theory. London: Sweet and Maxwell, 1973, Vol. 2, pages 138 to 192.

DROP, J.G.

The description should also mention any background art of which the applicant is aware, and which can be regarded as useful for understanding the invention and its relationship to the prior art; identification of documents reflecting such art, especially patent specifications, should preferably be included.

The application must disclose the invention in a manner sufficiently clear and complete for it to be carried out by a person skilled in the art.[Art. 83; Rule 42; ]

The "person skilled in the art" for this purpose is considered to be the skilled practitioner in the relevant field aware not only of the teaching of the application itself and the references therein, but also of what was common general knowledge in the art at the date of filing (date of priority) of the applica

The items making up this request are dealt with in A‑III, 4. They do not normally concern the search division or the examining division, with the exception of the title.

The title should clearly and concisely state the technical designation of the invention and should exclude all fancy names (see A‑III, 7.1).