1. Patent Searching

2. Outline
 Patent Information Basics
 Copyrights and trademarks
 Patent information sources

3. What is a patent
A patent is a government grant giving inventors the
exclusive right of making, using or selling an invention.
In exchange, the inventor is expected to provide a full
description of the invention so that others can benefit
from this advance.
Source: (CIPO, 2011)
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/

4. It is an exchange, where you must provide a full
description of the invention so that all Canadians
can benefit from this advance in technology and
knowledge.
People may then read about (though not make,
use, or sell) your invention without your
permission.

5. What can be patented
 A patent is granted only for the physical
embodiment of an idea (for example, the
description of a possible door lock) or for a
process that produces something tangible or
that can be sold. You cannot patent a scientific
principle, an abstract theorem, an idea, some
methods of doing business, or a computer
program.

6. Example of patentable invention
 The invention can be:
a) A product (e.g. A door lock)
b) A composition (e.g. Chemical composition
used in lubricants for door locks)
c) An apparatus (e.g. A machine for making
door locks)
d) A process (e.g. A method for making door locks)
e) Or an improvement on any of these

7. Where do patents come from
 Inventors send patent applications to patent
granting agencies. Here they are reviewed by
patent examiners.
 Patents only apply to the country that the patent
is granted in, so some inventions will have
multiple patent numbers for the different
countries where patents for that invention have
been obtained.

8. Where are patents from?
Some major patent granting agencies:
 United States Patent and Trademark Organization
http://www.uspto.gov
 Canadian Intellectual Property Office
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca
 European Patent Office (member states)
http://worldwide.espacenet.com
 Japan Patent Office
http://www.jpo.go.jp/

9. Where are patents from?
Free full-text online patent databases:
 WIPO Intellectual Property Digital Library
http://www.wipo.int/patentscope/search/en/search.jsf
 Google Patents
www.google.com/patents/
 Free Patents Online
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/

10. Other Sources of Patent Information
 Patent Lens – another free patent search website
http://www.patentlens.net/daisy/patentlens/patentlens.html
 Intellogist – some very useful free, online patent tools
http://www.intellogist.com/wiki/Main_Page
 Links to Patent Offices around the World

11. Canadian Patent Requirements
 Utility
• The invention must work and it must have a practical
purpose
 Novelty
• You must be the original inventor and the invention must
be the first of its kind in the world
 Inventiveness
• must show inventive ingenuity and not be obvious to
someone skilled in that area
• For example, changes in size and substituting one materials
are usually not patentable
• Should strike an examiner in your field with the thought of
“Why didn’t I think of that?”

12. Characteristics of Patent Literature
 Based in government and legal constructs
 Highly technical
 Expensive (beyond Canada and the US)
 Complex structure
 Obscure classification system
 Computer based
 Employs its own terminology

13. Challenges of patent searching
 For a comprehensive search, you cannot search
by keyword only
 Searching by patent classification results in
more accurate retrieval
 Patents are classified according to function (not
subject), using a numerical system
 One patent is often classified under multiple
classification numbers

14. 43
USPTO Class 43: Fishing,
Trapping and Vermin Destroying
43/1 Miscellaneous
43/2 Decoys
43/3 . Duck
43/4 Fishing
43/6 . Harpoons
43/7 . Nets
43/9 .. Trawl
43/10 .. Gill
43/11 .. Dip

15. Searching patents using only keywords can be painful
According to patent literature the Koosh ball is known as a
“Generally spherical object with floppy filaments to promote
sure capture” US 4,756,529

16. Patent Classification Codes
 A better way to search for similar inventions
 US Patent Classification
>>Class numbers and titles (list and definitions)
http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/select
numwithtitle.htm
 >>Search list for specific classification number
http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/index.
htm
 International Patent Classification (IPC)
http://www.wipo.int/classifications/ipc/en/

17. Types of patents
 There are three main types of patents. The patent numbers
differ so they can easily be differentiated
 Utility patents (e.g. 3,333,333) – an invention, a machine or
process
 Design patents (e.g. D321456) – granted on the appearance
of something; e.g. A chair with a pedestal instead of four legs.
 Plant patents (e.g. PP20235) – granted on bushes, trees,
roses, etc that are reproduced asexually; e.g. A patentable
part of a plant is its color, so a particular type or color of rose
can be patented and protect from duplication by other
horticulturalists
(Wherry, 1995)

18. Copyright & trademark
 Patents are not to be confused with copyright and
trademarks
 copyrights provide protection for literary, artistic, dramatic
or musical works (including computer programs), and three
other subject matter known as: performance, sound
recording and communication signal
 a trade-mark is a word, symbol or design (or any
combination of these) used to distinguish the wares or
services of one person or organization from those of others
in the marketplace
(CIPO, 2011)

19. Keys to a comprehensive search
 Never search for patents by keyword alone
 Also search using the classification codes. These can also
help you search patents across patent databases from
different countries
 Look at the Field of search, which are the USPC codes
consulted by the patent examiner during the prior art
search in US patents
e.g. Patent no. 7649183

20. Patents at the U of S
The Industrial Liaison Office (ILO) is a department
of the University of Saskatchewan created in 2004
reporting to the Vice President Research. One
function of ILO is to commercialize intellectual
property (e.g. inventions) arising from university-
generated research.
http://www.usask.ca/research/ilo/

21. Finding more patent information
 USPTO Patent FAQs
http://www.uspto.gov/patents/index.jsp
 CIPO Patent FAQs
http://www.cipo.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/cipointernet-
internetopic.nsf/eng/wr00141.html
 WIPO Patent FAQs
http://www.wipo.int/patentscope/en/patents/

22. Finding more patent information
 UofS Library’s How do I... Patents webpage
http://library.usask.ca/howto/patents.php
 Queen’s University Patents Tutorials
http://library.queensu.ca/research/guide/patent
s/tutorials

23. Finding more patent information
 Books at the Engineering Library
 Dulken, S. (2002) Introduction to patents
information. (4th Ed.). London: The British Library
Board.
 Wherry, T. L. (Ed.). (1995) Patent searching for
librarians and inventors. Chicago: American Library
Association.
 Hitchcock, D. (2007). Patent searching made easy:
How to do patent searches on the internet and in the
library. (4th Ed.). Morrisville, NC: www.lulu.com.

24. Contact Info
Cindy Ho, MLIS
Engineering Liaison Librarian
Room 1B08 Engineering Building
Phone: (306) 966-5978
Email: cindy.ho@usask.ca