Patent databases

A patent is a legal title which protects a technical invention for a limited period. The patent enables its owner to exclude others from exploiting the invention in the territory for which it has been granted. Patents are always published, so that everyone can benefit from the information they contain.

There are many good reasons for using patent information. More than anything else, it can help you make informed decisions when choosing strategies for researching or developing new products.

You can use patent information to:

If you are faced with a technical problem, there is no better way of finding out what solutions already exist than by looking at patents.

The technical details of research being carried out by your competitors may well appear first in a patent document, long before the product reaches the marketplace. By monitoring patent documents you can keep an eye on your business competitors, or even locate potential partners. You can also use patent information to identify patents that are no longer in force and can be freely used. Finally, by watching patent publications, you can spot trends in technology or the market at an early stage.

Before you put a new product on the market or offer a new service, you need to make sure that you will not be infringing someone else's patent. Patent information will help you here too.

C European Patent Office

Links to patent databases:

European Patent Office - provides an extensive database of European and world patents.

World Intellectual Property Organisation

United States Patent and Trademark Office