Are there alternative ways to access sequence data from patents and patent applications?

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.

Yes, there are alternative ways to access sequence data from patents and patent applications:

• Through the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
• From commercial vendors.

The MPEP explains: Sequence data may also be accessed in a more readily searchable manner from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov or from a commercial vendor. The USPTO forwards a copy of the sequence data to NCBI when a patent including a “Sequence Listing” is granted, and when an application containing a sequence is published pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 122(b).

NCBI indexes the sequence data by patent or patent application publication number, and there is currently no fee for public use of the NCBI site.