What is the proper way to identify a foreign priority application in a U.S. patent application?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
To properly identify a foreign priority application in a U.S. patent application, you should provide:
- The application number
- The country or intellectual property authority
- The filing date (day, month, and year)
MPEP 214.04 advises: “To ensure an accurate and complete citation of a foreign priority application, applicants should review the list of the various intellectual property offices and the recommended presentation of a foreign application number for each, which can be found in the tables of the online WIPO Handbook on Industrial Property Information and Documentation.”
It’s important to use the format recommended by WIPO for the specific country to ensure accurate identification and processing of your priority claim.