Understanding the EP authority file
Information
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Vital to patent publication transparency
An authority file is a complete list of all patent publication numbers issued by a patent office. Its main purpose is to ensure data completeness and consistency across patent collections.
The EP authority file includes not only valid publications but also records for numbers that did not result in a publication. These cover withdrawals, deletions, reissues, missing documents, or Euro-PCT publications not republished. This makes it a quality assurance tool that ensures publication records reflect reality, even when no document is available.
International Standards
The concept of authority files was spearheaded by the IP5 offices, eventually leading to the creation of WIPO Standard ST.37:
Recommendation for an authority file of published patent documents.
Today, 29 patent offices worldwide publish authority files, contributing to a standardised framework that supports cross-office consistency and transparency.
The EP authority file in practice
The EPO publishes its authority file every six months, free of charge, in three formats:
CSV (ST.37-compliant, PCT minimum documentation)
XML (EPO DTD, not ST.37-compliant)
JSON (non-compliant, for flexible integration)
Each entry contains:
Country code
Serial number
Kind code
Publication date
New developments: full-text availability
Since June 2025, the EP authority file has also included details on the availability of searchable full-text for each part of the publication (abstract, description, claims).
Language codes indicate availability.
N denotes missing searchable text.
An empty field signals that no text was expected (e.g., EP-B documents lack abstracts).
This addition aligns the authority file more closely with WIPO ST.37 recommendations, further enhancing its role as a completeness and transparency tool.
Why the authority file matters
Data integrity: Ensures that all assigned numbers are accounted for—even if no document exists.
Legal compliance: Provides a WIPO ST.37-compliant record (via CSV) for use in PCT procedures.
Transparency: Helps researchers, businesses and patent professionals understand gaps in numbering sequences.
Global consistency: Supports harmonisation across IP5 and other patent offices worldwide.
Reinforcing quality assurance
The EP authority file is much more than a list of numbers—it is a vital quality assurance mechanism for patent data. While milestones like EP4000000 capture attention, the authority file reveals the more nuanced truth: not every assigned number results in a publication. By documenting exceptions and now also full-text availability, the authority file remains indispensable for ensuring accuracy, transparency and trust in patent information.