MPEP § 2424.03 — Additional Miscellaneous Requirements (Annotated Rules)

§2424.03 Additional Miscellaneous Requirements

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2424.03, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Additional Miscellaneous Requirements

This section addresses Additional Miscellaneous Requirements. Primary authority: 37 CFR 1.823(a). Contains: 3 guidance statements and 5 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

International Filing Date

6 rules
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2424-03-98e7ed4787beec9a07ad00a5]
Proper Identification of Patent Applications and Publications
Note:
The rule requires providing accurate identification for patent applications and publications according to WIPO standards.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)International Filing DateReceiving Office (RO/US)Publication Language
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2424-03-3f6457d73d1908e84f497e85]
Patent Document Identification Requires Country, Number, and Kind Codes
Note:
A patent application must be identified with a country code, number, and filing date while a published document requires a country code, number, and kind code.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)International Filing DatePCT International Application FilingReceiving Office (RO/US)
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2424-03-bb351f5f1f705fcc94bb2d56]
Proper Citation of Priority Patent Applications Required
Note:
The rule requires that priority patent applications be properly cited according to the standards established by WIPO.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)International Filing DateReceiving Office (RO/US)Publication Language
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2424-03-cbf8cbaa93e0a32406b53a48]
Identification of Published Patent Documents Required
Note:
Patent documents must include country code, number, and kind code on the front page.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)International Filing DateReceiving Office (RO/US)Publication Language
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2424-03-bd5c8d3c61b8a18a8df034d5]
Country and Kind Codes Required for Patent Documents
Note:
Patent documents must be identified using country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16, which are available on WIPO’s website.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)International Filing DateReceiving Office (RO/US)Publication Language
StatutoryRecommendedAlways
[mpep-2424-03-18551064985c16a37ecb2158]
Proper Citation of Patent Documents Required
Note:
Questions on correctly citing patent documents should be directed to the Office of International Patent Legal Administration staff.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)International Filing DateReceiving Office (RO/US)Publication Language
Topic

Sequence Listing Content

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2424-03-441af84e8b2845c8415b5028]
Nucleotide and Amino Acid Sequence Disclosures Not Required After July 1, 2022
Note:
This rule does not apply to applications filed on or after July 1, 2022, that disclose nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences as defined in 37 CFR 1.831(b). For such applications, refer to MPEP sections 2412-2419 for guidance on WIPO ST.26 requirements.

[Editor Note: This section is not applicable to 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). See MPEP §§ 2412 – 2419 for guidance on WIPO ST.26 requirements for applications filed on or after July 1, 2022.]

37 CFR 1.77 · 37 CFR 1.831(b)Sequence Listing ContentSequence Listing Requirements
Topic

Receiving Office (RO/US)

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2424-03-b61915a59256f1563bf62e0c]
Identification for Unpublished PCT Applications
Note:
PCT applications are identified using the letters PCT, country code, filing year, and a six-digit number.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)Receiving Office (RO/US)PCT International Application FilingPatent Cooperation Treaty
Topic

Publication Language

1 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2424-03-2b13af87ffccb3c78e78389b]
Published PCT Application Identification
Note:
Identify published PCT applications using WO, year of publication, and a six-digit number.

Throughout 37 CFR 1.823(a), the items of information relating to patent applications and patent publications should be provided keeping in mind the appropriate standards that have been established by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In general, an application should be identified by a country code, a number and a filing date, while a published patent document should be identified by a country code, a number and kind code. Proper citation of priority patent applications is covered in MPEP § 214.04. For published patent documents, the country code, number and kind code will appear on the front page of the document. Unpublished PCT applications are identified by the letters PCT, the country code of the Receiving Office, and the four digit year of filing and a six digit number, e.g., PCT/SE2011/000123. A published PCT application is identified by the letters WO, the four digit year of publication and a six digit number, e.g. WO/2015/009167. Country codes from WIPO Standard ST.3 Annex A and kind codes from WIPO Standard ST.16 are accessible on WIPO’s website (www.wipo.int/standards/en/part_03_standards.html). See also MPEP § 1851. Questions on proper citation of patent documents should be directed to staff in the Office of International Patent Legal Administration.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.823(a)Publication LanguageInternational PublicationPatent Cooperation Treaty

Citations

Primary topicCitation
International Filing Date
Publication Language
Receiving Office (RO/US)
37 CFR § 1.823(a)
Sequence Listing Content37 CFR § 1.831(b)
International Filing Date
Publication Language
Receiving Office (RO/US)
MPEP § 1851
International Filing Date
Publication Language
Receiving Office (RO/US)
MPEP § 214.04
Sequence Listing ContentMPEP § 2412
MPEP § 2424

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31