Kind_code

Kind code

Kind code

WIPO standard

In patent law, a kind code, or WIPO Standard ST.16 code, is a code used on patent documents published by intellectual property offices to distinguish different kinds of patent documents.[1][2] A kind code includes a letter, and in many cases a number, used to distinguish the kind of patent document (e.g., publication of an application for a utility patent (patent application publication), patent, plant patent application publication, plant patent, or design patent) and the level of publication (e.g., first publication, second publication, or corrected publication).[1] The recommended use is the two-letter country code followed by the patent document number and then the kind code, e.g., "US 7,654,321 B1" for U.S. Patent No. 7,654,321 where there was no previously-published patent application publication, and "US 2003/1234567 A1" for U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003/1234567, published in 2003.[1]

In the European Patent Office

The European Patent Office (EPO) uses kind codes such as the following. Kind codes for patent applications begin with A and include

  • A1, for an application published with a European search report;
  • A2, for an application published without a European search report; and
  • A3, for a later publication of the European search report.[3]

Kind codes for granted patents begin with B and chiefly include B1 for a European patent specification (granted patent).[3]

In Japan

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) uses kind codes including

  • A for publications of patent applications; and
  • B1 and B2 for publications of granted patents.[4]

In the United States

In the United States, effective January 2, 2001, the kind codes indicate a variety of documents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), most importantly patent application publications and patents. The kind codes include

  • A1, for a patent application publication (pre-grant publication);
  • B1, for a patent issuing from an application that was not previously published as a pre-grant publication; and
  • B2, for a patent issuing from an application that was previously published as a pre-grant publication.[1]

Before January 2, 2001, the kind code for issued patents was A.[1]

PCT documents

For publications of international patent applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the kind codes include

  • A1 for an application published with an international search report (ISR);
  • A2 for an application published without an ISR; and
  • A3 for later publication of the ISR.[5]

References

  1. [1]
    "Kind Codes" Included on the USPTO Patent Documents, from the United States Patent and Trademark Office
  2. [2]
    Standard ST.16, from the World Intellectual Property Organization
  3. [3]
    Kind codes, from the European Patent Office
  4. [4]
    JP Authority File, from the Japan Patent Office
  5. [5]
    Kind Codes
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