Introduction to Patent Searching

Heather J. E. Simmons, JD, MLS17 September 2012

Intellectual Property

To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries

U. S. CONST. art. I, § 8

Intellectual Property

Copyrights

Trademarks

Patents

Trade Secrets

Types of Patents

The United States issues two types of patents

Utility Patents the invention of a new and useful

process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter

Design Patents a new, original, and ornamental

design for an article of manufacture

Patent NumbersUtility patent numbers have three

parts

Country Code (WIPO)

Number (may or may not include a year)

Kind Code Every country uses different

alphanumeric kind codes to designate each stage of filing

Examples

US7,748,634 B1

US20100256836 A1

USD424992

Utility Patent

Design Patent

USPTO Search Engine

AN/”general motors”

Fee v FreeWhy would you pay to subscribe to

a service when USPTO and Google do it for free?

Global Coverage

Value-added features Corporate Trees Patent Families Enhanced Titles and Abstracts Additional Classification Systems