Patent Information Search Strategies

Introduction to the WIPO Patent Information Search

Welcome to this comprehensive course on Patent Information and Search Strategies. In today’s knowledge-driven economy, the ability to effectively navigate and analyze patent documents is a crucial skill for inventors, researchers, and legal professionals alike. Throughout this program, you will gain a deep understanding of the patent system, learning not only what constitutes a patent document but also how to extract immense value from the data contained within. We will explore the strategic importance of patent information in corporate decision-making, technology transfer, and R&D management, while also examining critical global frameworks such as the WIPO Development Agenda and the Green Economy.

Moving from theory to practice, this course provides hands-on training in utilizing both free and commercial patent databases to conduct various types of searches, including state-of-the-art, novelty, validity, and freedom-to-operate analyses. You will master essential search techniques, ranging from keyword selection and Boolean logic to the application of complex classification systems like the IPC and CPC. By the end of this curriculum, you will be equipped to handle specialized search scenarios in fields such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and software, and possess the technical expertise required to interpret search reports and support innovation effectively.

1.1 Introduction – the patents system
1.2 What is patent information?
1.3 How can patent information be accessed?
1.4 Some alternatives to patents
1.5 The value and uses of patent information

1.5.1 The cost of insufficient patent information searching
1.5.2 The cost of litigation
1.5.3 Using patent information in corporate strategy
1.5.4 Technology transfer and foreign direct investment
1.5.5 Territoriality and the use of patent information
1.5.6 Patent mining
1.5.7 The role of Patent Offices in promoting the use of patent information

1.6 Patent Information and the WIPO Development Agenda

1.6.1 Overview of WIPO Development Agenda
1.6.2 The Development Agenda and Traditional Knowledge (TK), Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) and Genetic Resources (GRs)
1.6.3 The Development Agenda and Innovation and Technology Transfer
1.6.4 The Development Agenda and the WIPO Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) Program

1.7 How patent information can be used; some case studies

1.7.1 Case study 1: Licensing agreement
1.7.2 Case study 2: Patent information research
1.7.3 Case study 3: Patent information and marketing/investment strategy
1.7.4 Case study 4: Using patent information to solve a technical problem
1.7.5 Case study 5: Patent information as an ingredient in policy making (US Bayh Dole Act)

1.8 Self-Assessment Questions

2.1 What information is included in a patent document?

Title
Abstract;
Description, Drawings, Claims;
Patent/ Publication/ Application/ Priority number(s);
Dates;
Classifications;
Inventor, applicant, owner;
Citations;
Examiner/ Attorney Firms
Country Information
Patent Family;

2.2 Different types of patent search Introduction
2.3 State of the art searches
2.4 Novelty/patentability searches
2.5 Validity searches – is this patent valid; can it be legally challenged?
2.6 Name searches – what inventions has this individual or this company been involved in?
2.7 Technology activity searches – how has this technology developed over time and who has been involved in its development?
2.8 Freedom to operate searches; legal status searches – can I produce and/or commercialize this product in that country; has this patent been granted; is it in force?
2.9 The analysis of patent information for strategic use

2.9.1 Introduction
2.9.2 Licensing Strategy
2.9.3 Supporting mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
2.9.4 Guiding the management of research and development (R&D)
2.9.5 Human Resources Management
2.9.6 The Use of Creating Thinking - a qualitative analysis of patents

2.10 Suggestions for further reading
2.11 Self-Assessment Questions (SAQ)

3.1 Patent document databases

3.1.1 Introduction
3.1.2 Free patent search databases: Espacenet, Patentscope, USPTO etc
3.1.3 Search Activity – Practising with different databases
3.1.4 Commercial databases
3.1.5 ASPI

3.2 Non-patent literature

3.2.1 Introduction
3.2.2 ARDI, Hinari, AGORA, OARE – Research4Life

3.3 Search Strategies
3.4 Introduction
3.5 Truncation (or stemming)
3.6 Boolean logic

3.6.1 Search Activity – Barking dogs

3.7 Proximity searching

3.7.1 Search Activity - Optical mouse
3.7.2 Relevancy ranking

3.8 Field searching

3.8.1 Search Activity– Selecting fields

3.9 Phrase Searching

3.9.1 Search Activity – Merial or Merial Limited

3.10 The International Patent Classification (IPC)

3.10.1 Introduction
3.10.2 Structure
3.10.3 Finding the appropriate IPC symbols
3.10.4 Search Activity – The honey medicament again
3.10.5 Search Activity – Electric fencing

3.11 The Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)

3.11.1 Introduction
3.11.2 Search Activity - Finding CPC Codes
3.11.3 Search Activity - Finding CPC Codes for various technologies

3.12 Patent Families

3.12.1 Search Activity – Finding patent family members

3.13 Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs)

4.1 Hints

4.1.1 Introduction
4.1.2 Choosing keywords
4.1.3 Choosing classification symbols
4.1.4 Using the results of other people’s searches
4.1.5 Finding publication dates of prior art

4.2 Finding patent documents given some clues

4.2.1 Search Activity – Finding an application where the inventor has an unusual name
4.2.2 Search Activity – Finding an application where the inventor has a common name
4.2.3 Search Activity – Finding an application where the inventor’s name can be spelt in different ways
4.2.4 Search Activity – Checking a company’s IP assets
4.2.5 Search Activity - Finding a patent where the inventor has a common name

4.3 Finding some well known inventions

4.3.1 Search Activity - Finding the patent document for the pop-up toaster
4.3.2 Search Activity – Finding a famous invention from its technical description
4.3.3 Search Activity – Finding the invention which helps spiders get out of the bath
4.3.4 Search Activity – Finding the safety pin patent
4.3.5 Search Activity – Finding Albert Einstein’s US patent relating to refrigeration

4.4 Finding patent documents using keywords

4.4.1 Search Activity – Choosing the best keywords
4.4.2 Search Activity – How could Boolean operators help with this search?
4.4.3 Search Activity – Choosing the best keywords

4.5 Finding patent documents using classification symbols

4.5.1 Search Activity – Finding classification symbols from an abstract
4.5.2 Search Activity – Using classification symbols to perform a search

4.6 Finding patent documents using a combination of keywords and IPC symbols

4.6.1 Search Activity – Waste water revisited
4.6.2 Search Activity – Alarm system revisited

4.7 Finding patent family members

4.7.1 Search Activity - The 1983 America’s Cup

4.8 More complex searches

4.8.1 Search Activity - Finding the patent for the vaccine Tamiflu
4.8.2 Search Activity – Tea tree oil

4.9 Self Assessment Questions (SAQs)

5.1 Efficient and effective searching - some factors to consider

5.1.1 Introduction
5.1.2 Purpose
5.1.3 Budget
5.1.4 Time
5.1.5 Skill and resources
5.1.6 Security
5.1.7 General considerations

5.2 The risks of not carrying out a patent information search
5.3 Language barriers

5.3.1 Classification systems
5.3.2 Patent families
5.3.3 Automatic translation

5.4 Efficient and effective searching - some tips
5.5 Introduction
5.6 Preparation
5.7 What to search for
5.8 Words or classifications?

5.8.1 Advantages of searching with words
5.8.2 Disadvantages of searching with words
5.8.3 Advantages of searching with classifications
5.8.4 Disadvantages of searching with classifications
5.8.5 Words and classifications?

5.9 Carrying out the search
5.10 Errors – yours and theirs
5.11 Automatic updates of searches using RSS
5.12 What factors affect the results of a search?
5.13 Suggestions for further reading

6.1 Pharmaceutical and biotechnological products
6.2 Recent developments in biotechnology bacterium
6.3 Recent developments in pharmaceuticals
6.4 Chemical structure searching
6.5 Traditional Knowledge(TK), Traditional Cultural Expressions (TCEs) and Genetic Resources (GRs)

6.5.1 Introduction
6.5.2 Is the protection of TK, TCEs and GRs relevant to developing and least
6.5.3 Can misappropriation of TK, TCEs and GRs take place?
6.5.4 What protection can IP provide?
6.5.5 TKDL – the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL)
6.5.6 The protection of GRs
6.5.7 Bio-piracy Case study 1 :Hoodia
6.5.8 Bio-piracy in India – Case studies on Turmeric and Neem

6.6 Computer software, mathematical methods and methods for doing business

6.6.1 Introduction
6.6.2 Practice in the US

6.7 Freedom to operate searches
6.8 Finding patents relating to a particular technology or organization; and presenting the results graphically
6.9 Searching by using citation analysis (ie documents that cite a certain patent or were cited against that patent)

7.1 Introduction
7.2 The PCT minimum documentation
7.3 Understanding a patent search report
7.4 Case Study on a search report
7.5 The written opinion

8.1 Introduction – The Green Economy: what and why?
8.2 Green economy: drivers
8.3 The economic importance of becoming greener
8.4 How becoming greener can provide sustainable development
8.5 Technology transfer to developing countries
8.6 How are LDCs positioned to move towards a green economy?
8.7 Driving the transfer of technology to LDCs; TRIPS and Doha
8.8 How developing countries are progressing by switching to green
8.9 The role of patents in the transfer of green technology
8.10 Patent information and the IPC Green Inventory
8.11 How can IP policy – national and international – help the green economy?

The contents you are studying in these pages are a rewritten version of the “WIPO Patent Information Search” course.

You can view the original course in the “WIPO Academy” section. After completing this course, you will also be able to receive a certificate from WIPO. “The Secretariat of WIPO assumes no liability or responsibility with regard to the transformation or translation of the original content.”