Ernest I. Gifford and Avery N. Goldstein
7.3 Overview of patent databases available over the Internet
A researcher or technologist searching for information typically has imme- diate need for the desired information. The following section details data- bases searchable by way of the Internet, which in most instances are free to use. A cautionary note is provided that these databases all have limitations in searchable content, image retrieval, and available Boolean operators. The net result is that a given search should not be considered as authoritative, even though considerable information can still be found.
An overview of several patent databases follows. One should not expect to uncover the entire state of the art by searching in a given national patent database. In reviewing the following databases, the reader is cautioned to identify those portions of a patent document that are in fact searchable. For example, while the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) database allows one to search the full text of patent documents, other databases provide only for title keyword searching. Keyword searching in general is limited only to those documents that have been converted to a searchable format. Often, patent documents will be available through patent number or classification searches that will not be identified through a keyword search.
Patent searches are readily performed through a search link. The link and an overview of the web-based search capabilities for each site follows.
7.3.1 European Patent Office (ep.espacenet.com)
The EPO contains bibiliographic data for all patents published in any European Patent Organization member by the EPO and World International Property Organization (WIPO) currently dating back to 1998. Access is also
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provided to a comprehensive collection of patents published worldwide since 1920. For patents published since 1970, each patent family in the collection has a representative document with a searchable English- language title and abstract. A user can display and print out bibliographic data including the abstract, and where available, the cover page image together with any drawings and full text in machine-readable form. This is probably the most comprehensive free patent search site available on the Internet.
7.3.2 Japan (www19.ipdl.jpo.go.jp/pa1/cgi-bin/pa1init)
Patent abstracts of Japan are searchable from 1976 onward based on a variety of search fields such as keywords, international classification num- ber, publication number, patent number, and appeal number. Those ab- stracts published after 1992 include legal status information as well. The Japanese patent system has employed several numbering systems for pa- tents and publications over the years that are not necessarily intuitive, and care should be taken that searches based on these criteria are in fact accur- ate. Patent abstracts of Japan are written in a format including the problem to be solved and the constitution of the invention. This format affords additional modes of performing successful keyword searches. If a searcher has a language preference other than Japanese, with the discovery of a relevant Japanese abstract, a family search can be undertaken on one of the other websites detailed in this chapter to determine if there is a corre- sponding application or patent in a preferred language. The Deutsches Patent Informations System (DEPATIS) is an exemplary and free patent family search tool. A recently added tool provides on-the-fly translation from Japanese to English of whole patents.
7.3.3 United States Patent and Trademark Office (www.uspto.gov/
patft/index.html)
The USPTO website includes U.S. patents from 1790 forward and published applications from 2001 forward. Patents are searchable by fields from 1976 forward. Published applications are searchable by fields from 2001 forward.
7.3.4 Germany (www.depatisnet.dpma.de)
DEPATISnet allows an online search of a variety of ever-expanding inter- national patent publications compiled in the DEPATIS database. This data- base is the internal patent information system of the German Patent and Trademark Office. In addition to the collection of German patent resources, the information compiled in DEPATIS is in the original language. For example, Japanese patent abstracts are imported in English, French patent
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titles and abstracts in French. As a result of the multiple language content of DEPATIS, search terms must be designated in the appropriate language or multiple language searches conducted. A searcher can use a patent family search mode to find related patent documents within a particular patent authority and in different nations. The patent family mode is particularly helpful in finding corresponding documents in a language other than that uncovered.
7.3.5 Canada (patents1.ic.gc.ca/intro-e.html)
The Canadian Intellectual Property Office offers access to more than one- and-a-half million Canadian patent documents spanning more than 75 years. English and French language searches are available and represent a good source for determining French–English keyword pairs.
7.3.6 Russia (www.fips.ru/ensite)
In spite of the wealth of Russian language technical information that has been published, on-line searches for technology developed in the former Soviet Union remain difficult. The Russian Patent Office provides access to Russian patent abstracts and drawings dating to 1994.
7.3.7 World Intellectual Property Organization (http://ipdl.wipo.int/)
A searcher has access through this database to full text PCT documents from 1998. A full field text search tool is available in the three official WIPO languages: English, French, and Spanish. As PCT applications are filed on technology where the applicant is potentially going to seek international protection for the invention detailed in a PCT application, this is an excellent source of information about competitive organization patenting strategies when compared with national patents granted based on the PCT filing.
7.3.8 Commercial databases
There are a number of subscription accessible databases providing a searcher with a compendium of information that otherwise requires searches across multiple patent authority websites. In addition, these sites typically offer enhanced search fields, period search alerts, and access to related information such as litigation history, maintenance fee status, and updated assignment information. The fees structures and relative merits of a particular commercial database are unique to each searcher. Without endorsement of any of these databases some well-established information providers include Delphion, Dialog, and Lexis.
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