What information can be provided about international applications or applications claiming benefit of international 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.

According to MPEP 102, for national stage applications or applications claiming the benefit of a published international application:

“Only the serial number and filing date, or application number, as well as whether the application is pending, abandoned, or patented may be given for the national stage application and for any applications claiming the benefit of the filing date of the referenced published international application. Other information contained on the continuity data screen, such as whether the application is a CIP, continuation or divisional application, the date of abandonment of the application and issue date may be confidential information and should not be communicated.”

To request this information, a copy of the first page of the published international application or the corresponding page of the PCT Gazette must be supplied with the status request to the International Patent Legal Administration.

For more information on international applications, visit: international applications.

For more information on status information, visit: status information.