INDIA: IPO revises numbering pattern of patent applications and request for examination
The Indian Patent Office (IPO) introduced a new numbering pattern for Patent applications and Request for Examination in an order dated December 31, 2015, effective from January 1, 2016. The new unique numbering system is to streamline and standardise the processing of patent applications across all Patent offices in India.
NEW NUMBERING FORMAT FOR PATENT APPLICATIONS
Patent applications shall have a unique 12-character fixed numeric standard format “YYYYJTNNNNNN”, wherein:
‘YYYY’ denotes Year of Filing
‘J’ denotes Jurisdiction - Fixed single digits for Jurisdiction:
1 for Delhi
2 for Mumbai
3 for Kolkata
4 for Chennai
‘T’ denotes Type of Application- Fixed single digits for Type of Applications:
1 for Ordinary
2 for Ordinary- Divisional
3 for Ordinary- Patent of Addition
4 for Convention
5 for Convention-Divisional
6 for Convention – Patent of Addition
7 for PCT National phase
8 for PCT National phase – Divisional
9 for PCT National phase – Patent of Addition
‘NNNNN’ denotes six digits fixed length common continuous running serial number applicable for all patent offices in India. This shall be unique and sequentially incremented for all the patent offices in the order of their filing.
Date of application shall accompany the patent application number and Request of Examination number in the following format: YYYY/MM/DD, wherein;
‘YYYY’ denotes Year of filing
‘MM’ denotes Month and
‘DD’ denotes Day of filing.
NEW NUMBERING FORMAT FOR REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION: NORMAL AND EXPRESS
Request for Examination under rule 24B (1) (i) of the Indian Patents Rules, 2003 (Ordinary Request), shall have a unique 12-character fixed numeric standard format “RYYYYJNNNNNN”, and a Request for Examination under rule 24B (1) (ii) of the Indian Patents Rules, 2003 (Express Request), shall have a unique 12-character fixed numeric standard format “XYYYYJNNNNNN”. Wherein:
‘R’ denotes Normal Request for Examination
‘X’ denotes Express Request for Examination
‘YYYY’ denotes Year of filing
‘J’ denotes Jurisdiction for Patent application against which Request for Examination is filed (Fixed single digit number as mentioned above)
‘NNNNNN’ denotes six digits fixed length common continuous running serial number applicable for all patent offices in India as mentioned above
Readers may note, that the existing Patent application numbers and Request for examination numbers shall be continued by the IPO, till they are fully converted into the new numbering pattern.
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