A multiple dependent claim is a type of dependent claim that references in the alternative to more than one claim that has been previously presented. In essence, the multiple dependent claim incorporates by reference all of the limitations of the previous claim from which it depends.
In the United States, a multiple dependent claim cannot depend from another multiple dependent claim. However, some jurisdictions, such as the European Patent Office and the Japanese Patent Office, permit a multiple dependent claim to depend from another multiple dependent claim.
