Re: Patent Application Series Code 11?

On 4/21/2005 9:57 PM Michael White wrote:

>FYI -
>
>It appears that the USPTO has implemented a new series
>code for patent application serial numbers assigned on
>and after December 1, 2004.
>
>A couple of dozen applications published on April 14
>and 21 that were filed on Dec. 1, 2004 carry series
>code 11. The USPTO assigns utility and plant patent
>application numbers from 1-999,999. The series code
>prefix creates a unique number: 9/123,456, 10/123,456,
>11/123,456, etc. Series code 10 was implemented around
>December 2001.
>
>
What you wrote is true so far as it goes. But the serial numbers given
to US patent applications are drawn from distinct pools (blocks of one
thousand) depending on the entrance mechanism. For example. there are
(a) applications entering the US national stage from PCT; (b) regular
utility applications filed electronically, and (c) regular utility
applications filed on paper.

Your examples are all drawn from category (c). As an example from
category (b), just last Friday our firm e-filed ten US utility
applications, and they all were given serial numbers starting 10/907
(with three more digits thereafter). And I note that in February of
this year, we had a case enter the US national stage (category (a)) that
was given a serial number starting 10/524 (with three more digits
thereafter).

Received on Fri Apr 22 2005 - 15:30:20