Formatting a Publication Number

This help topic is a guide to the different publication number formats for the Major Full Text Collections within XLPAT. Publication numbers typically consists of up to three elements. Different formats from different authorities will use anywhere between one and all of these:

1. Sometimes there is a Classification Code at the beginning of the publication number mentioned in example column. Classification codes define the type of document. These codes usually consist of one- or two-digit numbers, but they can sometimes be letters and/or additional letters added to the end of the document authority code.
2. If there is a Year and Century forming part of the number, it is usually two or four digits. These digits appear, either at the start of the number, or following a classification code (should there be one).
3. The Serial number, which may vary in length between and within authorities. This number is usually at the end, and can often be the sole element used.

Therefore, if you are searching for a publication number standardized by a different source, the easiest way to find the correct format is often by referencing a known document of the same kind and similar time period. In other words, look at a similar document’s publication number for the existence and format of the above three elements, then convert accordingly. Where the “serial number” varies in length between documents, some sources may try to keep the length consistent by adding leading zeroes. Therefore inserting leading wildcards, or replacing existing zeroes with wildcards, within this section of the number may also help find the correct document. You may also try substituting alternative date formats or adding wildcards to allow for classification codes when you are unsure of how a particular authority publishes their numbers.

Select a patent authority to view XLPAT^® publication number formatting requirements:

1. CA – Canada
2. CN – China
3. EP – European Patent Office
4. FR – France
5. GB – Great Britain
6. JP – Japan
7. US – United States of America
8. WO – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
9. KR – Republic of Korea
10. IN – India

CA – Canada

Dates	Auth. Code	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	CA	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A1, C, A, B, F	CA2779658A1 CA1305731C CA1010935A CA1216603B CA2902498F
	CA	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	A, B, S	CA556057A CA939551B CA176964S
	CA	N/A	Fixed: 5 digits	S	CA76532S
From 01-01-2000	CA	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A1, C, E, F	CA2779658A1 CA1305731C CA1277180E CA2902498F
	CA	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	S	CA176964S
	CA	N/A	Fixed: 5 digits	S	CA76532S

CN – China

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	CN	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A, B, C, C8, U, Y, S, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6	CN1487838A CN1520004B CN1074075C CN1198186U CN2356018Y CN1491960K1 CN3623711S
Until 31-12-1999	CN	N/A	Fixed: 2 Digits	Fixed: 6 digits	A, B, U, K1, K2, K4	—
From 01-01-2000	CN	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 9 digits	A, C9, C8, Y	CN109309324A CN100548803C8 CN100502023C9 CN201436204Y
	CN	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 8 digits	A8, A9, B, B8, B9, U, U8, U9, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, S7, S8, K1, K2, K3, K4	CN(1)06061339A8 CN(1)03355657A9 CN(2)06865665U CN(1)05820349B CN(1)05256729B8 CN(1)04185869B9 CN(2)08315732U CN(2)08115820U8 CN(2)08085212U9 CN(1)02811130K1 CN(1)02030338K2 CN(1)00534171K3 CN(2)03707109K4 CN(2)01364160K5
	CN	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A, C, C8, C9, Y, S, K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6	CN1487838A CN1074075C CN2356018Y CN1491960K1 CN3623711S

DE – Germany

Application (Offenlegungsschrift, Auslegeschrift)

Dates (Application/Filing)	Auth. Code	Classification Code /*	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Prior to Oct. 1, 1968	DE	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A1, B, B1	DE1781485A1 DE1779721B1 DE1501803B2
Oct. 1, 1968-1994	DE	N/A	Filing: 2 digits***	Fixed: 5 digits	A1, B, B1, B2	DE1817939A1 DE2161349B
1995-2003	DE	Fixed: 1 digit*	Filing: 2 digits	Fixed: 5 digits	A1, A8	DE10002499A8 DE19510240A1
2004-Present	DE	Fixed: 2 digits**	Filing: 4 digits	Fixed: 6 digits	A1, A5, A8, A9 I1	DE102004036039A1 DE102012111798A9 DE112009004331A5

Granted (Patentschrift)

Dates (Application/Filing)	Auth. Code	Century /*	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Prior to Oct. 1, 1968	DE	N/A	Filing: 2 digits	Variable: 2-5 digits	C, C1, C2, C3, C5	DE1570484C3 DE3033865C2 DE144283C
Oct. 1, 1968-1994	DE	N/A	Filing: 2 digits***	Fixed: 5 digits	B4, B8, C, C2, C3, C4, C5, D2, T0	DE4414943B4
Prior to 1989	DE	N/A	Filing: 2 digits***	Fixed: 5 digits	D1, T3	DE1710263D1
From 1989	DE	Fixed: 1 digit*	Filing: 2 digits	Fixed: 5 digits	T3	DE69928471T3
1995-2003	DE	Fixed: 1 digit*	Filing: 2 digits	Fixed: 5 digits	B3, B4, B8, B9 C1, C3, C5, C8, D1, D2, T0, T2, T3,T5, T8, T9, I2****	DE10358843B3 DE10360256B4 DE10361375B9 DE19701513C3 DE19505583C5 DE69536065D1
2004-Present	DE	Fixed: 2 digits**	Filing: 4 digits	Fixed: 6 digits	B3, B4, B8, B9, C5, D1, D2, T2, T3,T5, T8, T9, I2****	DE102004001804B3 DE112004000143B4 DE102004001083B8

Utility Model (Gebrauchsmuster)

Dates (Application/Filing)	Auth. Code	Century /*	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Prior to Oct. 1, 1968	DE	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	U	DE6608033U DE1632139U
Oct. 1, 1968-1994	DE	N/A	Filing: 2 digits	Fixed: 5 digits	U, U1	DE7402930U DE9321657U1
1995-2003	DE	Fixed: 1 digit	Filing: 2 digits	Fixed: 5 digits*	U, U1	DE29724922U1
2004-Present	DE	Fixed: 2 digits	Filing: 4 digits	Fixed: 6 digits**	U1, U8, U9	DE202013102370U9 DE202007012020U8

Note:

* 1 for National Patent application, 2 for Utility Model application, 5 for EP-Patent for DE in German language (EP-Patente für DE in deutscher Sprache), 6 for EP-Patent for DE in English or French language (EP-Patente für DE in englische oder französischer Sprache)
** 10 for National Patent application, 11 for PCT Application, 12 for Supplementary Protection Certificate (Ergänzende Schutzzertifikate), 20 for Utility Model application (Gebrachsmusteranmeldung), 21 for Utility Model application from PCT application (Gebrachsmusteranmeldung aus PCT-Anmeldung), 22 for Topography application (Topographieanmeldung), 30 for Trademark application (Markenanmeldung), 40 for Design Patent application (Geschmacksmusteranmeldung), 41 for Typographic Character (Typographische Schriftzeichen), 50 for EP-Patent for DE in German language (EP-Patente für DE in deutscher Sprache), 60 for EP-Patent for DE in English or French language (EP-Patente für DE in englische oder französischer Sprache)
*** Two digit filing date is year + 1950, e.g., 18 = 1968, 21=1971
**** Seems to be original patent filing date for some, possibly date of filing for SPC application for others. It is therefore advisable to try both formats.

EP – European Patent Office

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	EP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A1, A2, A3, A4, A8, A9, B1, B2, B8, B9	EP1803318A1 EP0866934B1
From 01-01-2000	EP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A1, A2, A3, A4, A8, A9, B1, B2, B8, B9, B3	EP3437870A1 EP2987926B1

FR – France

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	FR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, B1, B2, B3, B4, T	FR1461790A FR3030911A1 FR2936226B1 FR1409033T
	FR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	A	FR825717A
	FR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 5 digits	E	FR88083E
	FR	N/A	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR I1, I2)	Fixed: 4 digits	M, E	FR4370M FR1812E
	FR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 3 digits	F, M	FR108F FR978M
	FR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 2 digits	F	FR92F
From 01-01-2000	FR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, B1, B2, B3, B4, T	FR1461790A FR3030911A1 FR2936226B1 FR1409033T
From 01-01-2000	FR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	A	FR825717A

GB – Great Britain

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	GB	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A, B, A8, A9, B8, C, C2, C3, S	GB2509886A GB2487316B GB2467653A8 GB2476666A9 GB2467653B8 GB2446738C GB2380918C2 GB2380918C3 GB4029690S
Until 31-12-1999	GB	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A)	Fixed: 2 Digits	Fixed: 5 digits	A, D0	GB(18)(96)23184A GB(99)25658D0
From 01-01-2000	GB	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A, B, A8, A9, B8, C, C2, C3, S	GB2509886A GB2487316B GB2467653A8 GB2476666A9 GB2467653B8 GB2446738C GB2380918C2 GB2380918C3 GB4029690S
From 01-01-2000	GB	N/A	Fixed: 2 Digits	Fixed: 5 digits	D0	GB(19)12700D0

JP – Japan

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	JP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 8 digits	B2,B1	JP64031141B2 JP29068258B1
	JP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	S, B2, B6, B1, U, U6, U7, Y1, Y6, Y2, K2, K4, K5	JP1553399S JP6536209B2 JP6527517B6 JP6536923B1 JP3222050U JP3220171U6 JP3214195U7 JP2607890Y1 JP2607899Y2 JP5305064K2 JP3107295K4 JP2567268K5
	JP	N/A	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR B1, Y1, A, A5, A6, B2, B6, U, U5, U6, Y2, Y6, K1, K2, K4, K5)	Fixed: 6 digits	C1, Z1, C2, S, B1, Y1, Z2, A, A5, A6, B2, B6, U, U5, U6, Y2, Y6, K1, K2, K4, K5	JP179904C1 JP340677Z1 JP182178C2 JP204343S JP(T)1511120B1 JP(S)26003182B1 JP(H)07121322B1 JP(S)41009211Y1 JP(S)06125766A JP1997104659A5 JP1992315559A6 JP(H)0436937B2 JP(S)6412154B2 JP6541221B2 JP3519403B6 JP(H)0572970U JP2002539332U5 JP(H)0582885U6 JP(H)0810653Y2 JP2014071796K1 JP(H)11352312K1 JP(H)0137954K2 JP(H)0687896K4 JP(H)0613399K5
	JP	N/A	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR B1, Y1, A, A5, A6, B2, B6, U, U5, U6, Y2, Y6, K1, K2, K4, K5, A1)	Fixed: 5 digits	C1, Z1, C2, B1, Y1, Z2, A, A5, A6, B2, B6, U, U5, U6, Y2, Y6, K1, K2, K4, K5, A1	JP1997104659A5 JP1992315559A6 JP(H)0436937B2 JP(S)6412154B2 JP6541221B2 JP3519403B6 JP(H)0572970U JP2002539332U5 JP(H)0582885U6 P(H)0810653Y2 JP2014071796K1 JP(H)11352312K1 JP(H)0137954K2 JP(H)0687896K4 JP(H)0613399K5
	JP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 3 digits	I, H, K7, K9	JP778H JP320I
From 01-01-2000	JP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 8 digits	B2, B1	JP64031141B2 JP29068258B1
	JP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	S, B2, B6, B1, U, U6, U7, Y1, Y6, Y2, K2, K4, K5	JP1553399S JP6536209B2 JP6527517B6 JP6536923B1 JP3222050U JP3220171U6 JP3214195U7 JP2607890Y1 JP2607899Y2 JP5305064K2 JP3107295K4 JP2567268K5
	JP	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, A5, A6, U, U5, U6, S3, K1, K4, A1)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, A5, A6, U, U5, U6, S3, K1, K4, A1)	Fixed: 6 digits	S, A, A5, A6, U, U5, U6, S3, K1, K4, K6, A1	JP179904C1 JP340677Z1 JP182178C2 JP204343S JP(T)1511120B1 JP(S)26003182B1 JP(H)07121322B1 JP(S)41009211Y1 JP(S)06125766A JP1997104659A5 JP1992315559A6 JP(H)0436937B2 JP(S)6412154B2 JP6541221B2 JP3519403B6 JP(H)0572970U JP2002539332U5 JP(H)0582885U6 JP(H)0810653Y2 JP2014071796K1 JP(H)11352312K1 JP(H)0137954K2 JP(H)0687896K4 JP(H)0613399K5
	JP	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, A5, A6, U, U5, U6, S3, K1, K4)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, A5, A6, A1, U, U5, U6, S3, K1, K4, A1 )	Fixed: 5 digits	C1, Z1, C2, B1, Y1, Z2, A, A5, A6, B2, B6, U, U5, U6, Y2, Y6, K1, K2, K4, K5, A1	JP1997104659A5 JP1992315559A6 JP(H)0436937B2 JP(S)6412154B2 JP6541221B2 JP3519403B6 JP(H)0572970U JP2002539332U5 JP(H)0582885U6 P(H)0810653Y2 JP2014071796K1 JP(H)11352312K1 JP(H)0137954K2 JP(H)0687896K4 JP(H)0613399K5
	JP	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 3 digits	–	–

Note:

* Year of Emperors Reign – starting 1926 (昭/Shōwa), 1989 (平/Heisei). For example, 昭10 = Showa 10 = 1935 (yyyy-1925), 平9=Heisei 9 =1997 (yyyy-1988). As it is linked to the reign of an Emperor, change will occur during the year, e.g., 1989 starts as Shōwa 64 and ends as Heisei 01, the first day of the Heisei era being 8th January.
** For A5 kinds, Publication Year in the publication number is Publication Year of the related Publication Kind A.

KR – Korea (Republic of Korea)

Unexamined Patent (공개특허공보 – Konggae t’ukho kongbo), Unexamined Utility Model (공개실용신안공보 – Konggae shilyong shin-an kongbo)

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	KR	Fixed: 2 Digits (WITH OR WITHOUT A, K1 , K4, U)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, K1, K4, U, A, B1, K2, K5, Y1)	Fixed: 7 digits	B1, K2, K5, Y1, K6, S, A, K1, K4, U	—
Until 31-12-1999	KR	Fixed: 2 Digits (WITH OR WITHOUT FOR A1, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY A1, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 6 digits	A1, K1, K4, U	—
From 01-01-2000	KR	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FORA, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 7 digits	B1, K2, K5, Y1, K6, S, A, K1, K4, U	—
From 01-01-2000	KR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	—	—

Note:

* Classification Code (2 digits):

10 – Patent
20 – Utility Models
30 – Designs

** Kind codes are particularly important for Korean documents, as you will find the same number with different kind codes, e.g., application and utility model, corresponding to completely different inventions.

US – United States of America

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 7 digits	A, B1, B2, B3	US4569344A US5264268B1 US4433070B3
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	A, I5, S, I4	US263053A US(B)494383I5 US(D)423353S US(T)997003I4
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 5 digits	I1, I5, S, P, E, F1, F2	US(X)55308I1 US(B)48560I5 US(D)99827S US(PP)11748P US(RE)36477E US(RE)29582F1 US(RE)33128F2
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 4 digits	H, P, E, F1	US(H)1802H US(PP)9994P US(RE)7002E
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 3 digits	E, H, I3	US(RE)892E US(H)112H US(AI)120I3
From 01-01-2000	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 8 digits	B1, B2, B8, B9, C1, C2	US10004959B1
	US	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A1, A2, A9, P1, P9)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A1, A2, A9, P1, P9)	Fixed: 7 digits	A, A1, A2, A9, B1, B2, P1, P9	US6168607A US(20)(18)(0)136598A1 US(20)(19)(0)352207A2 US9999840B1 US9999863B2 US(20)(19)(0)362111A9 US(20)(18)(0)084701P1 US(20)(19)(0)159374P9
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	S, S1	US(D)423353S US(D)868859S1
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 5 digits	S, P, E, F1, P2, P3	US(RE)29582F1 US(RE)37001E US(PP)11169P US(PP)11728P2 US(PP)12510P3
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 4 digits	H, P, E, F1	US(H)1802H US(RE)7002E
	US	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 3 digits	H	—

WO – World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) PCT

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	WO	N/A	Fixed: 2 Digits	Fixed: 5 digits	A1, A2, A3, A8, A9, B1, B8, B9	—
From 01-01-2000	WO	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A1, A2, A3, A4, A8, A9, B1, K1)	Fixed: 2 Digits	Fixed: 6 digits	A1, A2, A3, A4, A8, A9, B1, K1, B8, B9	WO2019028309A1 WO2008140670B1 WO2016006560K1
From 01-01-2000	WO	N/A	Fixed: 2 Digits	Fixed: 5 digits	A1, A2, A3, A8, A9, B1, B8, B9, K1	—

KR – Republic of Korea

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	KR	Fixed: 2 Digits (WITH OR WITHOUT A, K1 , K4, U)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, K1, K4, U, A, B1, K2, K5, Y1)	Fixed: 7 Digits	B1, K2, K5, Y1, K6, S, A, K1, K4, U	(10)B1, (10)K2, (20)K5, (20)Y1, (30)K6, (30)S KR236630B1 – KR100236630B1 KR100193748K2 KR163513Y1- KR200163513Y1 KR923966S – KR300923966S KR20000077504A KR19980080312K1 KR1999088672A – KR19990088672A KR19980080312K1 KR199942217U – KR19990042217U
Until 31-12-1999	KR	Fixed: 2 Digits (WITH OR WITHOUT FOR A, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY A1, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 6 Digits	A, K1, K4, U	CCYY7(nnnnnn)A KR19987003419A YY7(nnnnnn)A KR987001019A
From 01-01-2000	KR	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 2 Digits (ONLY FOR A, K1, K4, U)	Fixed: 7 digits	B1, K2, K5, Y1, K6, S, A, K1, K4, U	(10)B1, (10)K2, (20)K5, (20)Y1, (30)K6, (30)S KR236630B1 – KR100236630B1 KR100193748K2 KR163513Y1- KR200163513Y1 KR923966S – KR300923966S KR20000077504A KR19980080312K1 KR1999088672A – KR19990088672A KR19980080312K1 KR199942217U – KR19990042217U
From 01-01-2000	KR	N/A	N/A	Fixed: 6 digits	—	—

IN – India

Dates	Auth. Code	Century	Year	Number Format	Valid Kind Codes	Example
Until 31-12-1999	IN	N/A	N/A	Upto: 6 Digits	B	IN-1-B IN-14-B IN-244-B IN-3446-B IN-56632-B IN-156632-B
From 01-01-2000	IN	N/A	N/A	Upto: 6 Digits	B
Until 31-12-2015	IN	N/A	Fixed: 4 Digits	Fixed 5 digits N(NNNN)/OF/YYYY OF = Office of jurisidiction	I1,I2,I3,I4 – Replace by A	IN2015CH05309A IN2015KO00377A IN2015DE03211A IN2015MU02775A
	IN	N/A	Fixed: 4 Digits	Fixed 5 digits N(NNNN)/OF/YYYY OF = Office of jurisidiction	I1- OF is DE I2- OF is KO I3- OF is MU I4- OF is CH	IN201505309I4- IN2015CH05309A IN201500377I2- IN2015KO00377A IN201503211I1- IN2015DE03211A IN201502775I3- IN2015MU02775A
	IN	N/A	Fixed: 4 Digits	Fixed 5 digits N(NNNN)/OFNP/YYYY OF= Office of jurisidiction NP= National Phase (means a PCT entry)	P1,P2,P3,P4 – Replace by A	IN2015DN07856A IN2015MN02784A IN2015KN00978A IN2014CN02595A
	IN	N/A	Fixed: 4 Digits		P1- OF is DN P2- OF is KN P3- OF is MN P4- OF is CN	IN201507856P1- IN2015DN07856A IN201502784P3- IN2015MN02784A IN201500978P2- IN2015KN00978A IN201402595P4- IN2014CN02595A
From 01-01-2016	IN	N/A	Fixed: 4 Digits	yyyyJTnnnnnn J = jurisdictions of Indian Patent Offices 1 = Delhi, 2 = Mumbai, 3 = Kolkata, 4 = Chennai T = type of application: 1 = Ordinary Application, 2 = Ordinary-Divisional Application 3 = Ordinary-Patent of Addition Application 4 = Convention Application 5 = Convention-Divisional Application 6 = Convention-Patent of Addition Application 7 = PCT National Phase Application 8 = PCT National Phase-Divisional Application 9 = PCT National Phase Patent of Addition Application	A	IN201948041567A IN201747045187A IN201848048309A

Click Here to download the Publication Number formats (*.xls)