What information is available for published 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.

For published patent applications, the following information is generally available to the public:

• A copy of the application-as-filed
• File contents of the published application
• Specific documents in the file of the published application
• Status information (pending, abandoned, or patented)
• Application number
• Continuity data

According to 37 CFR 1.14(a)(1)(iii), “A copy of the application-as-filed, the file contents of the application, or a specific document in the file of a pending published application may be provided to any person upon request, and payment of the appropriate fee set forth in § 1.19(b).“

It’s important to note that if a redacted copy was used for publication, access may be limited to the redacted version.