Questions about WIPO DAS

A priority document is the copy of an earlier application certified as correct by the authority which received such application. It serves to prove the date of filing of a patent in one country and to allow the filing of the invention in other countries within 12 months, retaining the date of the first filing.

Upon request, the DPMA will certify that copies of the application documents of a patent, utility model, trade mark or design application are true copies of the documents filed on the date of filing, stating the date of filing and the name of the applicant/IP right owner.

The WIPO Digital Access Service (WIPO DAS) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a system allowing electronic priority documents to be securely exchanged. This means that the offices participating in the service as Offices of first filing can deposit the documents in a digital library provided by WIPO and that Offices of second filing can retrieve these documents.
For detailed information on DAS, please see the WIPO website.

The DPMA started to participate in WIPO DAS as "depositing Office" with respect to patents and utility models on 25 November 2024.

Initially, the DPMA participates as "depositing Office". This means that, upon request, priority documents concerning patent and utility model applications filed with the DPMA are deposited in WIPO DAS.

Customers can request the DPMA to provide an electronic priority document free of charge. This document will then be made electronically available to the Offices of second filing. Compared with a priority document on paper, this saves cost and time.

Please use the completed form A 9164 to request that a priority document be made available in WIPO DAS.

The DPMA will provide the person filing the request (applicant or representative) with a confidential access code. This access code can be used worldwide to request other Offices of second filing that participate in WIPO DAS as "accessing Offices" to retrieve the priority document.

If you are registered in DPMAdirektPro to receive documents electronically, you can receive the access code electronically. Otherwise, the access code will be sent by post.

No, the DPMA currently does not participate in WIPO DAS as accessing Office. The preparations for participating also as accessing Office are currently underway.

A list of the offices participating in WIPO DAS is available on the WIPO website.

Yes. It will still be possible to request priority documents on paper using Formular A 9165. Unlike the free request via WIPO DAS, the preparation of paper documents is subject to a fee.

The request is free of charge.

A priority document in paper form costs 20 euros.

In form A 9164, a consent under data protection law and an IT security statement by the user as well as a declaration of consent under patent and utility model law must be given for the participation in WIPO DAS.

Currently, the service is only available for patents and utility models.

You can withdraw the request and use form A 9164 to file a new, free of charge request to deposit the priority document in WIPO DAS.
The fee for an A 9165 request (request to issue a paper document) does not have to be paid if the priority document has not yet been issued.
The fee must be paid if the priority document has already been issued.

• • On the WIPO website: https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das

and https://www.wipo.int/en/web/das/participating_offices/index (participating Offices)

• •Information leaflet "Data Protection regarding IP applications" (A 9106)
• • Information leaflet Hinweise für Antragsteller von Prioritätsbelegen (A 9159) (in German)