201.14(d) Proper Identification of Priority Application - 200 Types, Cross-Noting, and Status of Application

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201.14(d) Proper Identification of Priority Application - 200 Types, Cross-Noting, and Status of Application

201.14(d) Proper Identification of Priority Application
In order to help overcome problems in determining the proper identification of priority applications for patent documentation and printing purposes, the following tables have been prepared which set out for various countries the forms of acceptable presentation of application numbers.
The tables should enable applicants, examiners and others to extract from the various formats the minimum required data which comprises a proper citation.
Proper identification of priority applications is essential to establishing accurate and complete relationships among various patent documents which reflect the same invention. Knowledge of these relationships is essential to search file management, technology documentation and various other purposes.
The tables show the forms of presentation of application numbers as used in the records of the source or originating patent office. They also show, under the heading "Minimum Significant Part of the Number," the simplified form of presentation which should be used in United States Patent and Trademark Office records.
Note particularly that in the simplified format that:

(A) Alpha symbols preceding numerals are eliminated in all cases except Hungary.

(B) A decimal character and numerical subset as part of a number is eliminated in all cases except France.

(C) Use of the dash (-) is reduced, but is still an essential element of application numbers, in the case of Czechoslovakia and Japan.

MINIMUM SIGNIFICANT PART OF AN APPLICATION NUMBER PROVIDING UNIQUE IDENTIFICATION OF AN APPLICATION

Table I--Countries Using Annual Application Number Series

Country # Example of application number at source Minimum significant part of the number Remarks

Austria [AT] A 12116/69 12116/69 The letter A is common to all patent applications.

Czechoslovakia [CS] PV3628-72 3628-72 PV is an abbreviation meaning "application of invention."

Denmark [DK] 68/2986 68/2986

Egypt [EG] 487-1968 487-1968

Country # Example of application number at source Minimum significant part of the number Remarks

Finland [FI] 3032/69 (old numbering system) 752032 (new numbering system) 3032/69 752032 New numbering system introduced on January 1, 1975. First two digits indicate year of application.

France [FR] 69.38066 7319346 68.38066 7319346 Deletion of the intermediary full stop from this number onwards.

Note: All French applications are numbered in a single annual series, e.g., demande de brevet, demande de certificate d'addition (first addition, second addition, etc.) Annual series of numbers is used for all applications of patent documents. The number allotted to an application at its filing (national registration number) is also the number of the granted patent.

Germany, Fed. Rep. of [DE] P 1940738//6-24 G6947580.5 1940738 D6947580 P=Patent. The first two digits of the number represent the last two digits of the year of application less 50 (e.g., 1969 less 50=19; 1973 less 50=23). The first digit after the slash is an error control digit. The two digits following the dash indicate the examining division. G= Gebrauschsmuster. The first two digits of the number represent the last two digits of the year of application. The difference in numbering scheme of the first two digits affords unique identification of this type of application. However, see note below (D). The digit after the period is for error control.

Ireland 1152/69 1152/69

Italy [IT] 28039-A/70 28039/70 Application numbers are not presented on published patent documents or given in an official gazette. An exclusive block of application numbers is given annually to each of 93 provincial bureaus where patent applications may be filed. In 1973, 90,000 numbers were allotted, wherein an estimated total of 30,000 applications were expected to be filed. While, as a consequence, gaps will exist in the ultimately used numbers, each application has a unique number. For this purpose, neither the dash nor the letter identifying the receiving bureau, which follows the application number, is needed.

Japan [JP] 46-69807 46-81861 46-69807 D46-81861 The two digits before the dash indicate the year (1925 or 1988) of the Emperor's reign in which the application was filed (46=1971). Patent and utility model applications are numbered in separate series.

Netherlands [NL] 7015038 7015038 First two digits indicate year of application.

Norway [NO] 1748/70 (old numbering system) 74001 (new numbering system) 1748/70 74001 New numbering system introduced on January 1, 1974. First two digits indicate year of application.

South Africa [ZA] 70/4865 70/4865

Sweden [SE] 16414/70 7300001-0 (new system) 16414/70 7300001 The new numbering system was introduced January 1, 1973. First two digits indicate year of application. The digit after the dash is used for computer control.

Switzerland [CH] 15978/70 15978/70

United Kingdom [GB] 41352/70 41352/70

Yugoslavia [YU] P1135/66 1135/66

Zambia [ZM] 142/70 142/70

Argentina [AR] 231790 231790

Australia [AU] 59195/69 59195/69 Long series spread over several years. New series started in 1970.

Belgium [BE] 96469 96469 Application numbers are not presented on published patent documents or given in an official gazette. A series of parallel numbers is provided to each of 10 offices which, respectively, may receive applications (control office + 9 provincial bureaus) and assign application numbers. Series was started in 1958. Since an application number does not uniquely identify a BE document, the patent number is often cited as the "priority application number."

Brazil [BR] 222986 222986

Bulgaria [BG] 11572 11572

Canada [CA] 103828 103828

Colombia [CO] 126050 126050

Table II--Countries Using Other Than Application Number Series

Country # Example of application number at source Minimum significant part of the number Remarks

Brazil [BR] 222986 222986

Bulgaria [BG] 11572 11572

Canada [CA] 103828 103828

Colombia [CO] 126050 126050

Cuba [CU] 33384 33384

German (Dem. Rep.) [DD] AP84c/137355 WP135b/147203 137355 147203 AP=Ausschliessungspatent; WP=Wirtschaftspatent. The other symbols before the slash are classification symbols. A single numbering series covers both AP and WP applications.

Greece [GR] 44114 44114

Hungary [HU] OE 107 OE 107 The letters preceding the number are essential for identifying the application. They are the first letter and the first following vowel of the applicant's name. There is a separate numbering sequence for each pair of letters.

Israel [IL] 35691 35691

Luxembourg [LU] 60093 60093

Mexico [MX] 123723 123723

Monaco [MC] 908 908

New Zealand [NZ] 161732 161732

OAPI [OA] 52118 52118

Philippines [PH] 11929 11929

Poland [PO] P144826 44987 144826 D44987

Portugal [PT] P52-555-5607 52555 D5607

Romania [RO] 65211 65211

Soviet Union 1397205-15 1397205 The numbers following the slash denote the examination division and a processing division.

United States [US] 889877 889877 The highest number assigned in the series of numbers started in January 1960. New series started in January 1970, January 1979, D January 1987, January 1993, and January 1998.

# ICIREPAT Country Code is indicated in brackets, e.g., [AR].

D In order to distinguish utility model applications from patent applications, it is necessary to identify them as to type of application in citations or references. This may be done by using the name of the application type in conjunction with the number or by using the symbol "U" in brackets or other enclosure following the number.

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Country #	Example of application number at source	Minimum significant part of the number	Remarks
Austria [AT]	A 12116/69	12116/69	The letter A is common to all patent applications.
Czechoslovakia [CS]	PV3628-72	3628-72	PV is an abbreviation meaning "application of invention."
Denmark [DK]	68/2986	68/2986
Egypt [EG]	487-1968	487-1968
Country #	Example of application number at source	Minimum significant part of the number	Remarks
Finland [FI]	3032/69 (old numbering system) 752032 (new numbering system)	3032/69 752032	New numbering system introduced on January 1, 1975. First two digits indicate year of application.
France [FR]	69.38066 7319346	68.38066 7319346	Deletion of the intermediary full stop from this number onwards.
Note: All French applications are numbered in a single annual series, e.g., demande de brevet, demande de certificate d'addition (first addition, second addition, etc.)	Annual series of numbers is used for all applications of patent documents. The number allotted to an application at its filing (national registration number) is also the number of the granted patent.
Germany, Fed. Rep. of [DE]	P 1940738//6-24 G6947580.5	1940738 D6947580	P=Patent. The first two digits of the number represent the last two digits of the year of application less 50 (e.g., 1969 less 50=19; 1973 less 50=23). The first digit after the slash is an error control digit. The two digits following the dash indicate the examining division. G= Gebrauschsmuster. The first two digits of the number represent the last two digits of the year of application. The difference in numbering scheme of the first two digits affords unique identification of this type of application. However, see note below (D). The digit after the period is for error control.
Ireland	1152/69	1152/69
Italy [IT]	28039-A/70	28039/70	Application numbers are not presented on published patent documents or given in an official gazette. An exclusive block of application numbers is given annually to each of 93 provincial bureaus where patent applications may be filed. In 1973, 90,000 numbers were allotted, wherein an estimated total of 30,000 applications were expected to be filed. While, as a consequence, gaps will exist in the ultimately used numbers, each application has a unique number. For this purpose, neither the dash nor the letter identifying the receiving bureau, which follows the application number, is needed.
Japan [JP]	46-69807 46-81861	46-69807 D46-81861	The two digits before the dash indicate the year (1925 or 1988) of the Emperor's reign in which the application was filed (46=1971). Patent and utility model applications are numbered in separate series.
Netherlands [NL]	7015038	7015038	First two digits indicate year of application.
Norway [NO]	1748/70 (old numbering system) 74001 (new numbering system)	1748/70 74001	New numbering system introduced on January 1, 1974. First two digits indicate year of application.
South Africa [ZA]	70/4865	70/4865
Sweden [SE]	16414/70 7300001-0 (new system)	16414/70 7300001	The new numbering system was introduced January 1, 1973. First two digits indicate year of application. The digit after the dash is used for computer control.
Switzerland [CH]	15978/70	15978/70
United Kingdom [GB]	41352/70	41352/70
Yugoslavia [YU]	P1135/66	1135/66
Zambia [ZM]	142/70	142/70
Argentina [AR]	231790	231790
Australia [AU]	59195/69	59195/69	Long series spread over several years. New series started in 1970.
Belgium [BE]	96469	96469	Application numbers are not presented on published patent documents or given in an official gazette. A series of parallel numbers is provided to each of 10 offices which, respectively, may receive applications (control office + 9 provincial bureaus) and assign application numbers. Series was started in 1958. Since an application number does not uniquely identify a BE document, the patent number is often cited as the "priority application number."
Brazil [BR]	222986	222986
Bulgaria [BG]	11572	11572
Canada [CA]	103828	103828
Colombia [CO]	126050	126050

Country #	Example of application number at source	Minimum significant part of the number	Remarks
Brazil [BR]	222986	222986
Bulgaria [BG]	11572	11572
Canada [CA]	103828	103828
Colombia [CO]	126050	126050
Cuba [CU]	33384	33384
German (Dem. Rep.) [DD]	AP84c/137355 WP135b/147203	137355 147203	AP=Ausschliessungspatent; WP=Wirtschaftspatent. The other symbols before the slash are classification symbols. A single numbering series covers both AP and WP applications.
Greece [GR]	44114	44114
Hungary [HU]	OE 107	OE 107	The letters preceding the number are essential for identifying the application. They are the first letter and the first following vowel of the applicant's name. There is a separate numbering sequence for each pair of letters.
Israel [IL]	35691	35691
Luxembourg [LU]	60093	60093
Mexico [MX]	123723	123723
Monaco [MC]	908	908
New Zealand [NZ]	161732	161732
OAPI [OA]	52118	52118
Philippines [PH]	11929	11929
Poland [PO]	P144826 44987	144826 D44987
Portugal [PT]	P52-555-5607	52555 D5607
Romania [RO]	65211	65211
Soviet Union	1397205-15	1397205	The numbers following the slash denote the examination division and a processing division.
United States [US]	889877	889877	The highest number assigned in the series of numbers started in January 1960. New series started in January 1970, January 1979, D January 1987, January 1993, and January 1998.
# ICIREPAT Country Code is indicated in brackets, e.g., [AR].
D In order to distinguish utility model applications from patent applications, it is necessary to identify them as to type of application in citations or references. This may be done by using the name of the application type in conjunction with the number or by using the symbol "U" in brackets or other enclosure following the number.

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