---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 C.F.R. § 41.12"
title: "37"
number: "41.12"
heading: "Citation of authority."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/37/41.12"
---

# §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.

## Notes

### Amendments

[76 FR 72296, Nov. 22, 2011]

### Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 3(a)(2)(A), 21, 23, 32, 41, 134, 135, and Public Law 112-29.

### Source

Source: 69 FR 50003, Aug. 12, 2004, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[76 FR 72296, Nov. 22, 2011]