---
kind: "section"
citation: "37 C.F.R. § 42.13"
title: "37"
number: "42.13"
heading: "Citation of authority."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/37/42.13"
---

# §42.13. 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

### Authority

Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 3, 6, 21, 23, 41, 134, 135, 143, 153, 311, 312, 314, 316, 318, 321-326, 328; Pub. L. 112-29, 125 Stat. 284; and Pub. L. 112-274, 126 Stat. 2456.

### Source

Source: 77 FR 48669, Aug. 14, 2012, unless otherwise noted.