Created by: "MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

For all IP mads and covering recently burning news and updates in the field of Intellectual Property.

For more information:http://mad4ip.blogspot.in/

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

What is Patent search?

• Patent search can be defined as a process of retrieving and analyzing prior art inventions based on various parameters from patent databases depending on the goals to be achieved.

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Types of Patent Search

Novelty Search• To determine novelty of new invention.

Freedom to operate Search• To determine extent of commercialization without infringement.• Also referred to as a “Clearance” search, a “right to use” search, or an

“infringement” search.

Validity Search• Determine validity of a patent.

State-of-the art Search• To determine technology trend.

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Benefits from Patent Search• Identify innovation trends and developments in a

specified field of technology• Discover new product portfolio which can be licensed

from the patentee or used without needing a license• Find information that prevents duplication of research• Keep track of the work of a particular individual or

company by seeing what patents they have been granted

• Find a solution to a technical problem• Gain new ideas for research in a particular field

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Limitations of Patent Search• Patents typically publish 18 months after the initial filing date

so till that time they remains out of public domain• Data is entered manually by patent offices and inevitably

errors and inaccuracies will occur such as misindexing, misclassification and spelling errors

• Terms used in patents have technical meanings that are different from their everyday meanings

• Patent examiners may not classify a patent application into the most appropriate classifications

• An organization may have changed their name or acquired patents via purchasing or licensing.

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Developing a Patent Search Strategy

Which search tools to use?• Various search type

– Simple or Basic– Advanced or Syntax– Boolean or Field Combination

• Words (synonyms, some are more likely to be in the text than others)

• Classifications e.g. IPC, US• Names e.g. Inventor• Dates• Citations

Which fields to search?• Patent Office• Title• Abstract• Claims• Full Text• Bibliographic Data

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Words: Pros and Cons

Pros• Easy to use• Can be used in most

databases• Infinitely flexible• Can be use singly or in

specified combinations/ orders/ separations

• Can search full text in some databases or restrict to titles/abstracts/abstracts

Cons• Need to be aware of

language, synonyms (e.g. cellphone, cell phone, mobile phone)

• Alternative spellings (e.g US v UK, color and colour)

• Can be imprecise in some arts and generate too many hits (e.g. for electric circuits - control AND temperature)

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Classifications: Pros and Cons

Pros• Independent of language,

synonyms, alternative spellings, terminology, quirky vocabulary

• Comprehensive and detailed

• Classification term can be the quickest and best way

Cons• Can be complex and challenging

to understand beyond an elementary level

• May not have any terms which are a good fit for a particular search

• May be applied with varying skill and accuracy by different authorities

• May generate too many hits if used at a general level

• May not be universally applied

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Refining Search-Trial & Error

• Try in individual or combined search in different parts of patent e.g. title, abstract, claims etc.

• Try searching as a phrase• Use different Operator e.g. AND, OR, or ANDNOT etc.• Use a truncation wildcard "$" or “*” e.g. Mot$ , US2000*• On/Off word stemming• Include/Exclude synonyms• Expand/Shrink abbreviations• Increase/ Decrease time bracket

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Where to do Patent Search?

• Patent Office Database Search • On-line Patent Office Databse Search Services• Patent Search Softwares

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

Patent Search Resources

• Patent Office Database Search – WIPO Patentscope– USPTO(United State Patent and Trademark Office)– EPO(European Patent office)– Patent Abstracts of Japan– CIPO(Canadian IP Office)…..many more

• On-line Patent Office Databse Search Services– Free Databases

• Patent Lens• SIP Patent Database• Free patents online• Sumobrain• PriorIP…..many more

– Paid Databases• Delphion• Q-Pat• Boliven• Patsnap …..many more

• Patent Search Softwares– Patent integration– IP vision– Patent Insight Pro….. many more

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP

For all IP mads and covering recently burning news and updates in the field of Intellectual Property.

For more information:http://mad4ip.blogspot.in/

"MAD 4 IP" - MAD FOR IP, MADE FOR IP