Bates numbering is a process where documents, often during the discovery phase of legal case, are marked with a unique identifier for further reference and organization. Also called Bates stamping and Bates coding, this process is undergoing change as the volume of information increases from electronic discovery. The following links provide examples of Bates numbers in PDF documents and the computer forensic process:

• http://blogs.adobe.com/acrolaw/2006/09/acrobat_8_new_f.html
• http://www.techpathways.com/uploads/BatesNumbering.pdf