When did the USPTO implement the Sequence Listing XML requirement?

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.

The USPTO implemented the Sequence Listing XML requirement for patent applications filed on or after July 1, 2022. This is clearly stated in the editor’s note of MPEP 2419.01:

“[Editor Note: This section is applicable to all applications filed on or after July 1, 2022, having disclosures of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences as defined in 37 CFR 1.831(b).]”

This change affects patent applications with disclosures of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences, requiring them to be submitted in XML format rather than the previous ASCII text format.