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 foreign priority applications, the bib-data sheet should include:
- Application number
- Country (or intellectual property authority)
- Day, month, and year of filing
MPEP 202 specifies: “A bib-data sheet should include the application number, country (or intellectual property authority), day, month, and year of each foreign application that the U.S. application is claiming the priority of. The examiner should check this information for accuracy.”
It’s important to note that only countries qualifying for benefits under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) should be listed. Applications from non-qualifying countries should be lined through on the bib-data sheet.