How to use the Jurisdiction Patent Formatter agent skill

What the jurisdiction-format skill makes the agent do

An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file with instructions. When the skill is active, the agent follows those instructions for matching tasks. This skill covers one task: compiling an existing patent application into filing-ready documents for a specific office.

The skill reads your claims, specification sections, and metadata, then reorders sections, applies numbering, and adjusts wording to each office's conventions. Its stated rule is that it reformats content only and does not modify claim content.

• CN (CNIPA): claims in Chinese with the 其特征在于 form, and a description in CNIPA section order.
• US (USPTO): numbered claims using 'The method of claim 1, wherein...' style, a specification in USPTO order, and a skeleton Application Data Sheet.
• EP (EPO): claims in two-part form with 'characterised in that', and a description in EPO order ending with a Reference Signs List.
• Each office gets its own folder, plus a summary file and a consistency checklist.

Install the jurisdiction-format skill

Download the skill ZIP from this page. You can install it for yourself across all projects, or for one project only.

For a personal install, unzip the file into ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, unzip it into the project's .claude/skills/ folder. Either way, the skill folder should contain SKILL.md.

If you use the Claude apps instead, open Settings, go to Capabilities, then Skills, and upload the ZIP there.

• Personal: ~/.claude/skills/
• Project only: the project's .claude/skills/ folder
• Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP

Prepare your input files before you run it

The skill assumes the patent draft already exists. It does not write claims or specification text from scratch. Organise your files in a patent/ folder with these inputs.

Two requirements are easy to miss. The shared reference files (patent-format-cn.md, patent-format-us.md, patent-format-ep.md) must sit at ../shared-references/ relative to the skill, and the source says they are not included in the provided file. Without them, the skill cannot load the office rules. Python with python-docx is needed only if you choose docx output.

• patent/CLAIMS.md: drafted claims
• patent/specification/: title, technical_field, background, summary, drawings_description, detailed_description and abstract sections
• patent/figures/: figure descriptions and numeral index
• patent/INVENTION_DISCLOSURE.md: metadata
• ../shared-references/: patent-format-cn.md, patent-format-us.md and patent-format-ep.md (not included in the download)

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You can invoke the skill with its argument hint, which accepts a patent directory or a jurisdiction. You can also simply describe what you want. The skill's description lists these trigger phrases: 格式转换, jurisdiction format, 国家格式, compile patent, and requests for formatted patent documents for CN, US or EP filing.

If you do not name a jurisdiction, the skill's constant is set to auto, so state the office in your request to be sure. The skill accepts CN, US, EP or ALL.

• "Format my patent in patent/ for USPTO filing."
• "Compile patent for CN and EP."
• "国家格式: generate all three jurisdictions."
• "Jurisdiction format this application for EP only."

Understand the output files and checks

Files are written to patent/output/, with subfolders CN, US and EP. The skill also writes patent/output/OUTPUT_SUMMARY.md, which lists each file and includes a consistency checklist: all claims present in every format, claim numbering consistent, reference numerals matching across formats, no format-specific rules broken, and correct language per jurisdiction.

Output is Markdown by default, which the skill describes as suitable for review. Docx output is for filing and needs python-docx. If python-docx is not available, the skill is instructed to fall back to Markdown.

• CN: 权利要求书.md, 说明书.md, 说明书摘要.md
• US: claims.md, specification.md, abstract.md, ads_template.md
• EP: claims.md, description.md, abstract.md
• Summary: OUTPUT_SUMMARY.md

Safety notes: scripts, permissions and review

The skill's tool permissions include Bash(*), along with Read, Write, Edit, Grep and Glob. That means the agent can run shell commands while it works, so read the SKILL.md before installing and run the skill on a copy of your files if you are cautious. The listing states that the skill runs scripts and does not use the network.

The skill checks formatting and consistency. It does not check legal sufficiency or novelty, and its own rules describe output as needing review. Have a qualified patent attorney verify the filing documents before you file, because formatting errors or missed requirements can affect a filing.

• Read SKILL.md before installing.
• Work on a copy of your patent folder if you are unsure.
• Treat all output as a draft until a patent professional has reviewed it.