i-link for Access Code on the AIA/14

Q1. What is an Access Code? A1. Data that used together with the application number and filing date to uniquely identify a application that is registered into the WIPO DAS (World Intellectual Property Organization Digital Access Service). As of March 18, 2013, all WIPO DAS participating offices require that the access code be provided in order to retrieve the priority document.

Q2. When is an Access Code required? A2. When the following conditions are met: (1) The foreign priority application is filed in a foreign intellectual property office that is a participating WIPO DAS depositing office; (2) Appropriate steps have been taken by the applicant to make the priority application available to the Office via the WIPO DAS; and, (3) The applicant wishes the Office to attempt electronic retrieval of the priority application.

Q3. What format should be used on the Application Data Sheet (ADS) Foreign Priority Information section? A3. The application number and access code format are determined by the DAS participating office. Sample application number formats can be found on the USPTO Website at https://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ADSSampleFormat.pdf

Q4. Will the Office notify the applicant when an Access Code is required, but not furnished? A4. When an applicant claims priority to a foreign application filed in a WIPO DAS depositing office and fails to provide the required access code, the U.S. application filing receipt will include an indication “No Access Code Provided” adjacent to the foreign application number.

Q5. Will the Office notify the applicant that retrieval of the priority document will be attempted? A5. When an applicant claims priority to a foreign application filed in a WIPO DAS depositing office and provides the required access code, the U.S. application filing receipt will include an indication “Access Code Provided” adjacent to the foreign application number and the following notice: Request to Retrieve – This application either claims priority to one or more applications filed in an intellectual property Office that participates in the Priority Document Exchange (PDX) program or contains a proper Request to Retrieve Electronic Priority Application(s) (PTO/SB/38 or its equivalent). Consequently, the USPTO will attempt to electronically retrieve these priority documents.

Q6. Which offices participate in the WIPO DAS? A6. The Office is required to furnish to the WIPO DAS an Access Code in order to obtain a foreign application filed with the following foreign intellectual property offices: Foreign application types which may be available: Participating Office National/ Utility Industrial Hague PCT Regional Model Design International International Design AR AR Argentina National Institute of Industrial Property AT AT AT RO/AT Austrian AU AU RO/AU IP Australia BR BR RO/BR Brazil National Institute of Industrial Property CA Canadian Intellectual Property Office CL CL CL RO/CL Chile National Institute of Industrial Property CN CN CN RO/CN National Intellectual Property Administration, PRC (CNIPA)

December 2020

i-link for Access Code on the AIA/14

Foreign application types which may be available: Participating Office National/ Utility Industrial Hague PCT Regional Model Design International International Design CO CO CO RO/CO Superintendence of Industry and Commerce of Columbia DK RO/DK Danish Patent and Office EA RO/EA Eurasian Patent Office EE EE Estonian Patent Office EM European Union Intellectual Property Office ES ES ES RO/ES Spanish Patent and Trademark Office FI FI RO/FI National Board of and Registration of Finland FR FR RO/FR France Institute of Industrial Property GB United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office GE GE GE RO/GE National Intellectual Property Center of Georgia IB RO/IB International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization IL IL RO/IL IN IN RO/IN IT IT IT RO/IT Italian Patent and Trademark Office JP JP JP KR KR KR Korean Intellectual Property Office MA RO/MA Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property MX MX MX RO/MX Mexican Institute of Industrial Property NL RO/NL Netherlands Patent Office NO NO RO/NO Norwegian Industrial Property Office NZ New Zealand Intellectual Property Office SE RO/SE Swedish Patent and Registration Office

December 2020