What is the significance of the country code on foreign patent documents?

The country code on foreign patent documents is crucial for identifying the origin of the patent. The MPEP provides guidance on this:

“In citing foreign documents, the two-letter country code (WIPO Standard ST.3) should be used.“

This standardization helps in:

• Quickly identifying the issuing country
• Ensuring consistent citation across international patent literature
• Facilitating easier searching and retrieval of documents

To learn more:

• Country code
• Foreign patents
• WIPO Standard ST.3