Key Resources for Patent Searching
Because of the limitations of keyword searching (one person’s screw is another’s threaded fastener), it is best to use general keywords to find a related patent and then use the patent classification system to find patents in that class and subclass. Here our expert provides a list of his best patent search resources.
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Because of the limitations of keyword searching (one person’s screw is another’s threaded fastener), it is best to use general keywords to find a related patent and then use the patent classification system to find patents in that class and subclass. Here our expert provides a list of his best patent search resources.
- United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
All issued U.S. patents and published U.S. patent applications are searchable by patent classification or number through this site. Keyword searching is possible on the full text of all U.S. patents issued in 1976 or later and all published U.S. patent applications. A free plug-in is required to view patent drawings and images of patents before 1976; follow the links on the website to download the plug-in.
- European Patent Office (EPO)
This site permits free keyword searching of titles and abstracts of millions of patents and published applications from around the world. Patents may also be searched by International Classification. Acrobat PDF Reader is required to view drawings.
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
Search the database for Canadian patents and published applications.
- Japan Patent Office (JPO)
This site permits keyword or number searching of Japanese patents and published applications. Japanese patents, applications, and utility models (Kokai) may be retrieved by number.
- Delphion
Formerly the IBM patent server, this for-pay subscription service allows searching U.S., European, Japanese, German, and PCT applications by keyword or classification system. Adobe PDF Reader is required.
- Micropatent PatentWeb
This is another for-pay subscription service. It offers full-text searching of all issued U.S. patents, as well as patents issued by other countries.
Source: Michael F. Brown (www.bpmlegal.com) retired in 2017 as partner in the Ithaca, New York, law firm Brown & Michaels PC. Contact the firm at 607-256-2000; Chris Michaels’ email: michaels@bpmlegal.com.
