Referencing Toolkit

Basic Format to Reference Patents

The basics of a reference list entry for a patent retrieved online:

• Author or authors. The surname is followed by first initials.
• Year (in round brackets).
• Title of patent (in italics).
• Patent number (In round brackets) e.g. (Australian Patent No. AU xxxxxxxxxx).
• Name of Patent Office. e.g. IP Australia for Australian patents, European Patent Office for European patents.
• The first line of each citation is left adjusted. Every subsequent line is indented 1.27cm.

Example:

Bevitt, A. J. (2018). Litter, waste disposal and recycling app. Australian Patent No. AU 2018100960). IP Australia. http://pericles.ipaustralia.gov.au/ols/auspat/applicationDetails.do?applicationNo=2018100960

Please note:

• For the in-text citation give the patent number and the issue date (not the application date).
• In the reference list entry, include the inventor(s) to whom the patent is issued and the official source from which the patent information can be retrieved.

The Basics of a Reference List Entry for a Standard:

The basics of a reference list entry for a standard retrieved online:

• Author.
• Year (in round brackets).
• Standard title (in italics).
• Standard number (in round brackets).
• Publisher name.
• Homepage URL of the publisher (as a direct URL is not available for standards).
• The first line of each citation is left adjusted. Every subsequent line is indented 1.27cm.

Example:

Standards Australia & Standards New Zealand. (2018). Interior and workspace lighting part 2.5: Hospital and medical tasks (AS/NZs 1680.2.5-2018). SAI Global. https://www.saiglobal.com/

Printable Handouts

Citation Examples: Patents

Citation Examples: Standards