How to Cite a Patent in Harvard Referencing

This guide explains how to format a patent citation in Harvard Referencing. Follow the format template below, refer to the real example, and use the step-by-step instructions to build your citation correctly.

Format Template

The general pattern for citing a patent in Harvard Referencing:

Template

Inventor, A. (Year) *Title of patent*. Patent No. X,XXX,XXX. Country.

In-Text Citation Example

How the citation appears within the body of your paper:

In-text citation

(Johnson, 2022)

Reference List Entry Example

The full citation as it appears in your reference list:

Reference list entry

Johnson, L.K. (2022) *System and method for adaptive neural network training*. U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678. United States.

Step-by-Step Guide

1
Identify the inventor
List the inventor(s) using surname followed by initials. For multiple inventors, separate with commas and use 'and' before the last inventor.
2
Add the year
Place the year the patent was granted in parentheses.
3
Write the patent title
Italicise the title of the patent using sentence case.
4
Include the patent number
Write the patent number preceded by the patent type (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678).
5
Add the country
Include the country where the patent was granted.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Omitting the patent number.
Not italicising the patent title.
Confusing the filing date with the grant date — use the grant (issue) date.
Forgetting to include the country of the patent office.
Using an overly abbreviated patent office name without specifying the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use the filing date or the grant date for a patent in Harvard?

Use the grant (issue) date as the year in the citation. The filing date is when the application was submitted; the grant date is when the patent was officially issued.

How do I cite a patent application that has not yet been granted?

Use the filing date and note that it is a patent application: Inventor, A. (Year) *Title*. Patent Application No. XX/XXX,XXX. Country.

Do I include a URL for a patent in Harvard style?

A URL is optional. If the patent is accessed online, you may add 'Available at: URL (Accessed: Day Month Year).' at the end of the reference.

Information You Will Need

Before creating your citation, gather the following information from your patent:

Inventor
Title
Patent Number
Country
Filing Date
Issue Date

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Step-by-Step Guide

Identify the inventor

List the inventor(s) using surname followed by initials. For multiple inventors, separate with commas and use 'and' before the last inventor.

Add the year

Place the year the patent was granted in parentheses.

Write the patent title

Italicise the title of the patent using sentence case.

Include the patent number

Write the patent number preceded by the patent type (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 11,345,678).

Add the country

Include the country where the patent was granted.