# File wrapper

The complete record of all communications between an applicant and the USPTO during patent prosecution — including the original application, all office actions, all responses, and the notice of allowance. Also called the "prosecution history." The file wrapper is public and permanent; courts use it during litigation to interpret the scope of claims based on statements the applicant made to the examiner.

**Full entry:** https://patentbrief.org/glossary/file-wrapper

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

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