How should USPTO documents be identified according to MPEP 901.04(a)?

According to MPEP 901.04(a), USPTO documents should be identified using three key elements:

It is recommended that USPTO documents be identified by the following three elements: (A) the two-character country code (US for United States of America); (B) the patent or publication number; and (C) the WIPO ST.16 kind code.

For example:

• “US 7,654,321 B1” for U.S. Patent No. 7,654,321 where there was no previously published patent application publication
• “US 2003/1234567 A1” for U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/1234567, published in 2003

This standardized format ensures clear and consistent identification of USPTO documents across various platforms and jurisdictions.

To learn more:

• USPTO document identification
• country code
• patent number
• WIPO ST.16 kind code