2413.01(h) Language Dependent Free Text Qualifiers in the English Language [R-07.2022]

[Editor Note: This section is applicable to all applications filed on or after July 1, 2022, having disclosures of nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences as defined in 37 CFR 1.831(b). Formatting representations of XML (eXtensible Markup Language) elements in this section appear different than shown in Standard ST.26, which may be accessed at: www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/03-26-01.pdf.]

WIPO Standard ST.26, paragraph 3(n), uses the term “free text” to mean a type of value format for certain qualifiers, presented in the form of a descriptive text phrase or other specified format.

WIPO Standard ST.26, paragraph 3(o), uses the term “language-dependent free text” which means that the free text value of certain qualifiers, may require translation for national, regional or international procedures.

WIPO Standard ST.26 identifies qualifier elements which serve to provide additional information about the identified sequences.

The element INSDFeature_quals contains one or more INSDQualifier elements. Each INSDQualifier element represents a single qualifier and consists of three dependent elements. See MPEP § 2413.01(g), subsection VII.

WIPO Standard ST.26, paragraph 85, provides that free text is a type of value format for certain qualifiers presented in the form of a descriptive text phrase or other specified format with reference to the controlled vocabulary found in Annex I of WIPO Standard ST.26. See MPEP § 2413.01(g).

WIPO Standard ST.26, paragraph 86, requires that the use of free text be limited to short terms indispensable for the understanding of a characteristic of the sequence. For each qualifier, the free text must not exceed 1000 characters.

WIPO Standard ST.26 specifies that language-dependent free text is the free text value of certain qualifiers that is language-dependent in that it may require translation for national, regional or international procedures. Qualifiers for nucleotide sequences with a language-dependent free text value format are identified below:

Table 5: List of Qualifier Values for Nucleotide Sequences with Language-Dependent Free-Text Values

Section	Language-Dependent Free Text Value
6.3	bound_moiety
6.5	cell_type
6.8	clone
6.9	clone_lib
6.11	collected_by
6.14	cultivar
6.15	dev_stage
6.18	ecotype
6.22	function
6.24	gene_synonym
6.26	haplogroup
6.28	host
6.29	identified_by
6.30	isolate
6.31	isolation_source
6.32	lab_host
6.36	mating_type
6.41	note
6.45	organism
6.47	phenotype
6.49	pop_variant
6.50	product
6.66	serotype
6.67	serovar
6.68	sex
6.69	standard_name
6.70	strain
6.71	sub_clone
6.72	sub_species
6.73	sub_strain
6.75	tissue_lib
6.76	tissue_type
6.81	variety

(Reproduced from Table 5 of WIPO Standard ST.26, Annex I, Section 6)

Qualifiers for amino acid sequences with a language-dependent free text value format are identified below:

Table 6: List of Qualifiers for Amino Acid Sequences with Language-Dependent Free Text Values

Section	Language-Dependent Free Text Value
8.2	note
8.3	organism

(Reproduced from Table 6 of WIPO Standard ST.26, Annex I, Section 8.)

• (a) Language-dependent free text must be presented in the INSDQualifier_value element in English, or in the NonEnglishQualifier_value element in a language other than English, or in both elements. Note that if an organism name is a Latin genus and species name, no translation is required. Technical terms and proper names originating from non-English words that are used internationally are considered English for the purpose of the value of the INSDQualifier_value element (e.g., ‘in vitro’, ‘in vivo’).
• (b) If a NonEnglishQualifier_value element is present in a sequence listing, the appropriate language code (see WIPO Standard ST.26 which references the International Standard ISO 639-1:2002) must be indicated in the nonEnglishFreeTextLanguageCode attribute in the root element (see List of File Attributes reproduced in MPEP § 2413.01(e)). All NonEnglishQualifier_value elements in a single sequence listing must have values in the language indicated in the nonEnglishFreeTextLanguageCode attribute. The NonEnglishQualifier_value element is permitted only for qualifiers that have a language-dependent free text value format.
• (c) Where NonEnglishQualifier_value and INSDQualifier_value are both present for a single qualifier, the information contained in the two elements must be equivalent. One of the following conditions must be true: NonEnglishQualifier_value contains a translation of the value of INSDQualifier_value; or, INSDQualifier_value contains a translation of the value of NonEnglishQualifier_value; or, both elements contain a translation of the qualifier value from the language specified in the originalFreeTextLanguageCode attribute (see List of File Attributes reproduced in MPEP § 2413.01(e)).
• (d) For language-dependent qualifiers, the INSDQualifier element may include an optional attribute id. The value of this attribute must be in the format “q” followed by a positive integer, e.g. “q23”, and must be unique to one INSDQualifier element, i.e. the attribute value must only be used once in a “Sequence Listing XML” file (WIPO Standard ST.26, paragraph 87).