# Claim differentiation

A canon of claim construction: different claims are presumed to have different scope, so a limitation spelled out in a dependent claim is presumed to be absent from the broader independent claim it depends on. It is used to argue an independent claim should be read broadly.

**Full entry:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary/claim-differentiation

**All patent terms:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary

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_Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. A plain-English glossary of US patent terms._