Searching Patents in esp@cenet
Chemistry and Intellectual Property - Catalysing Innovation
Dr. Peter Burkhardt
Malta 15.02.2011
Structure of the presentation
• Overview
• Class Search
• Advanced Search
• Examples
Public Patent databases
•
Esp@cenet
– http://www.espacenet.com/index.en.htm
•
Epoline
– http://www.epoline.org/portal/public
•
WIPO
– http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/
•
USPTO
– http://www.uspto.gov/patft/
•
JPO
– http://www.ipdl.inpit.go.jp/homepg_e.ipdl
•
SurfIP
– http://www.surfip.gov.sg/
•
Freepatentsonline
– http://www.freepatentsonline.com/
•
Depatisnet
– http://depatisnet.dpma.de/
esp@cenet
• Esp@cenet is a web portal run by the EPO enabling the user to
access more then 73 million documents from all over the world,
representing technical developments from 1836 until the
present day.
• Coverage:
– EP database
– WIPO database
– Worldwide
esp@cenet - Coverage
•
Worldwide database
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Published patent applications from 85 patent authorities
More than 72 million documents
International and European Patent Classification
Abstracts of non-examined Japanese patent applications filed by
Japanese applicants since 1976
Patent applications without Jap. priority since 1998
Updated monthly (translation delays)
European and British applications available online on publication
date
Cyrillic, Japanese, Chinese character sets are supported
Translation between English - German, English - Spanish,
English - Italian, English - French, French - English
esp@cenet - Flexibility
•
Espacenet is flexible
– Simple search with basic knowledge
– Advanced search with more experience
– Semi-profesional search combining classification with keywords
– SmartSearch is a new Google-like search engine
– delivers complete patent documents
esp@cenet - EPO
Keyword searches or technology class searches?
Keyword searches
• Patent applicants don't use
a common language
– Legal implications
– Scope of protection
– Hide from competitors
• Hard to find the right
keywords
• Good results usually
require professional patent
search experience
Technology class searches
• Each patent classified by
patent professionals
• EPC is hierarchical and
very detailed: you can
gradually narrow down
searches
• Descriptions of classes
written in such a way as to
be easily found and
understood
• Little experience required
• BUT: EPC classes won't
match your needs 100%
Patent jargon
writing instrument
= pen
a plurality of balls
= ball bearing
spherical object
with floppy filaments
to promote sure capture
= toy ball
Patent jargon in electronics
electrical power source for
electronic circuits
= battery
semiconductor switching
device with a control electrode
= transistor
galvanically isolated electrical
coupling means
= transformer
Patent jargon in general technology
energy-storing means
= spring
fastening means
= nail, screw or rivet, etc.
Patent jargon in chemistry
•
water- and oil-repellent surface
Teflon®
•
water-soluble or water-dispersible
polymer
polyacrylic acid (salt) or polyvinyl
alcohol
•
superabsorbent
gel of polyacrylic acid (salt)
•
expanded styrenic (co)polymer
polystyrene foam; Styrofoam®
•
polyisoprene
natural rubber
•
ionomer
copolymer of ethylene and salts of
acrylic acid
•
graft copolymer of vinyl aromatic
monomers on a butadiene rubber
ABS (the plastic of which LEGO
bricks are made)
•
aromatic polyester
PET (polyethylene terephthalate)
Patent jargon in chemistry
• A composition comprising A, B and C
= a mixture of at least A, B and C, and possibly other components
Example: A composition comprising a solution of lactic acid in alcohol/water
→ Wine!
• A composition consisting of A, B and C
= a mixture in which only A, B and C are present
Example: A composition consisting of a solution of lactic acid in alcohol/water
→ Wine is now excluded, since it comprises many more products than just
lactic acid, alcohol and water.
• A composition consisting essentially of A, B, and C
= a mixture of A, B and C which may include further components provided they
do not negatively affect the effect of the invention
Example: A composition consisting essentially of a solution of lactic acid
in alcohol/water
→ Wine might be included if the other components in wine do not prevent
the effect of the invention being obtained.
Patent jargon in chemistry/pharmaceuticals
A composition comprising water and glycerol
"comprising"
=
further ingredients may also be present
"containing"
=
further ingredients may also be present
"consisting of"
=
only the ingredients listed are present
esp@cenet - EPO - Classification search
esp@cenet - Advanced Search
esp@cenet - Advanced Search
•
Boolean operators:
AND
OR
NOT
Combination of two or more search terms (default operator)
Listing of alternatives
Exclusion of search terms (handle with care)
can be combined
•
Wildcards:
*
String of characters of any length
e.g. tumour* 
tumour
tumours
tumourigenic ...
unlimited
?
Zero or one character
e.g. tumo?? 
limited
#
can be combined
Exactly one character
e.g. cancer# 
tumor
tumour
tumors ...
limited
cancers
Summary
• Esp@cenet
– semi-professional search in bibliographic data of a wide
range of patents worldwide
– high quality data set, same as for examiners at the EPO
– keyword and classification search
– smart search in beta test
Questions?
www.epo.org
Examples
Example 1
• In the early 1930's Charles Darrow was unemployed and broke.
• In 1935 he invented something that would eventually make him
a millionaire...
• What was it?
Example 2
• Find suitable European classification symbols for transgenic
worms (Caenorhabditis elegans)
Example 3
• Who is the inventor of dinosaur ravioli?
• What else did he invent?
esp@cenet - Advanced Search - Example
esp@cenet - EPO - Advanced Search - Example
esp@cenet - EPO - Advanced Search - Example
esp@cenet - EPO - Advanced Search - Example
esp@cenet - EPO - Classification search