Let me once and for all explain WIPO Standard ST-3.
This international standard,in existence since 1978,provides for
two-letter codes for the abbreviated identification of countries and
entities granting industial property right titles and was elaborated by
various working parties under the aegis of the Permanent Committee for
industrial Property
information (PCIPI) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
in Geneva
ST-3 is in reality a subset of ISO Standard 3166-1993 plus a certain number
of codes to identify regional IP systems such as the Benelux trademark
office,OAPI,ARIPO,the EPO,etc
Copies of the text of ST-3 can be obtained from me or WIPO.
Paul Claus,Senior Director-Advisor,WIPO