Sample patent document Search at various stages of Patent Conception Stage Research and Development Stage Patent Application Stage Litigation Stage Why Search for Patents? To determine novelty of the invention To determine if it is useful and non-obvious To be abreast with the field of invention To track competing products To avoid infringement Invalidation search Patent databases Public Databases www.uspto.gov www.espacenet.com www.freepatentsonline.com www.wipo.int www.google.com/patents Private Databases www.delphion.com www.micropatent.com Searching for patents Patent number Keyword Other ways to search Classification International (IPC), U.S. Classification, European Classification, etc.
Dates Application, Issue, Publication, etc.
Names Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Examiner, Attorney/Agent, etc. Numbers Patent, Publication, Application, Priority, etc. Classification Classification is based on subject matter. Each patent office has its own classification system. e.g.: a) 91/465 ; 5/600; 74/110; 74/520; 91/471 b) A61G 13/00; A61G13/10; F15B 011/08 USPTO United States Patent http://www.uspto.gov U.S. Patent database is the largest technical database in the world!
If you’re looking for the “state-of-the-art,”
you must search the U.S. Patent database!” Seven step Strategy 1. Determine initial classification (use Classification Index or do a patent keyword search). 2. Scan the class schedule in the Manual of Classification. 3. Read Subclass definitions to establish the scope of the subclasses. 4. Browse patent titles and abstracts. Repeat as necessary. 5. Retrieve the subclass listing. 6. Review full text patent documents. 7. Check References Cited, Referenced by and previously published applications in relevant patents. USPTO
USPTO PN Patent Number CCL Current US Classification IN Inventor Name ICL International Classification ISD Issue Date APN Application Serial TTL Title Number ABST Abstract APD Application Date ICN Inventor Country REF Referenced By SPEC FREF Foreign References Description/Specification PCT PCT Information AN Assignee Name GOVT Government Interest
USPTO Other ways to define classes Conduct an advanced search to retrieve the most relevant patents Check their classes Read the definition and continue…
EPO http://ep.espacenet.com/ Provided by the European Patent Office Searchable in original language of patent application Includes patent publications from around the world including UK, EP, WO, European, Japanese, worldwide patents Full-text PDF documents including drawings, descriptions, claims are available for free for most of the retrieved patents
EPO EPO Covers patents filed and published through the EPO route within 24 months It is not possible to perform searches either in the abstract field or using a European Classification symbol.
EPO WIPO Covers patent applications published by WIPO in the last 24 months Not possible to perform a search in the abstract field or using a European Classification symbol.
EPO Worldwide Information about published patent applications from over 80 different countries and regions. EPO patent application older than 24 months WIPO Patent application older than 24 months All JP Patents since 1976 irrespective of their filing route
EPO - Positives Classification standards almost same but more comprehensive than international classification Can search for WIPO, worldwide and EPO patents under one umbrella. Good source for legal status and equivalents data Link to EPO register Can save searches Last search is automatically saved Family equivalents including US patents
EPO - Negatives Result limit: 500 Often classification search needs to be clubbed with keywords to reduce the results. Field restrictions are few as compared to USPTO No of classes are less. Thus no. of patents per class is more.
WIPO - Positives No display limit Structure search enables 11 restriction fields at once Can search in claims Details of national phase entry wherever available Can search by week All documents and notices related to the application is available (file history)
Delphion - Positives Allows search in US, EP, WO, DE, JP Derwent titles Extensive list of restriction fields Can search in claims INPADOC search Clustering and mapping based on Keywords Export results to excel File history available for a cost Alerts
Delphion - Positives Snapshots: Statistical data Top Assignee Top Inventors How many patents being filed in a particular are per year Non Patent Prior art Search Relevancy Score Classification search possible once classes are identified
Micropatent - Positives Allows search in US, EP, WO, DE, FR, JP, GB Sort result by family Worksheets Save queries: Allows to rerun the search anytime Can export results to EXCEL Patent graph: top 10 assignee, top ten classes Alerts file history