# Enablement

A requirement under 35 USC § 112 that a patent's specification must teach someone skilled in the relevant field how to make and use the invention — without undue experimentation. If the specification fails to enable the full scope of what the claims cover, the patent is invalid for lack of enablement. This is one of the most frequent grounds for invalidating broad software and biotechnology patents.

**Full entry:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary/enablement

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

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