Formatting Patent Numbers

Introduction

 This section gives tips for formatting patent numbers for effective searching in STN Easy.

Definition

A patent number may be a

  • Published patent application
  • Published granted patent

Patent number formats

 Patent numbering formats vary depending on the country granting the patent.
Patent-issuing authorities in these countries Follow this patent numbering format:
 United States (U.S.), EPO (EP), Canada (CA), Australia (AU), Germany (DE), for example Continuous numbering
 Brazil (BR), Korea (KR), The Netherlands (NL), South Africa (ZA), WIPO (WO) Western year numbering restart
Japan (JP) Unexamined applications (Kokai - kind code A)  Before Dec 1999 Japanese emperor year numbering restart
 Year 2000 forward Western year numbering restart
Examined applications (Kokoku - kind code B)   Before May 1996 Japanese emperor year numbering restart
 May 1996 forward Replaced by Toroku
 New law granted patents (Toroku - kind code B)  May 1996 forward Continuous numbering

Continuous numbering format

These patent numbers follow this format:

CCnnnnnnnn

  • CC = ISO country code
  • nnnnnnn = 1-8-digit number, without spaces or punctuation

Western year numbering restart format

These patent numbers follow a 2/4/6 format:

CCYYYYNNNNNN

  • CC = 2-letter ISO country code
  • YYYY = 4-digit publication year
  • NNNNNN = 6-digit number (exactly 6), without spaces or punctuation (add leading zeroes, if needed, to make a total of 6 digits)

Japanese emperor year numbering restart format

These patent numbers follow this format:

JPEENNNNNN

  • JP = ISO country code for Japan
  • EE = last 2 digits of the Japanese Emperor year

 This western year Corresponds to this Japanese emperor year  Conversion factor:
 1926-1989 01-64 Western Year - 25
 1989-2000 01-12 Western Year - 88

  • NNNNNN = 6-digit number (exactly 6 digits), without spaces or punctuation (add leading zeroes, if needed, to make a total of 6 digits)

Back To STN Easy Quick Tips Index



Home | Products | Support | Search