Patent Information PDF

# Patent Information ## Outline of Presentation - The functions of the patent system - What is patent information? - Users of patent information - Characteristics of patent information - Use of patent information - IPC System ## I-Functions of the Patent System ### Incentive Function ### Inform...

# Patent Information ## Outline of Presentation - The functions of the patent system - What is patent information? - Users of patent information - Characteristics of patent information - Use of patent information - IPC System ## I-Functions of the Patent System ### Incentive Function ### Information Function ## I-Functions of the Patent System: Protection Function/Incentive ### Benefits: - Reduce the number of competitors in the market - Revenue from licensing - Cross-licensing, joint-development, or joint-marketing for needed technology or marketing resources - Confidence for venture capitalists or other investors - Increase the value of the company - In the case of liquidation, can sell the IP portfolio separately ## II - What is Patent Information? This disclosure adds to the technological knowledge in the world, as well as, to the advancement or development of technology. The disclosure is an accumulation of millions of technical solutions to the different challenges that we face everyday. Patent information means all related information contained in a patent document. Patent documents constitute a valuable source of legal, technical, business, and policy-related information. ### What are the different Sources of Technological Information when developing/enhancing Technologies? - Textbooks - Professional or Technical Journals - Colleagues - Other Publications - Patent Documents ## III-Users of Patent Information Patent information is important to: - SMEs - R&D Institutions - Governmental Institutions - Inventors - Professionals of Patents - Educational Institutions & Universities ## IV - Characteristics of Patent Information as a Source of Technological Information ### Not published elsewhere (unique) - About two-thirds of the technical information revealed in patents is never published elsewhere - Nearly 1 million new inventions are disclosed via the patent system every year - Over 70 million patent documents have been published to date ### Well Organized due to classification system ### Concentrated information ### Patent information includes all information contained in patent documents ## IV - Characteristics of Patent Information as a Source of Technological Information ### Patent information is global - Quick and easy access (internet) - Low cost (accessible) - Patent information remains permanently available - Unique Resource (U.S. patent file spans over 200 years (evolution of society)) ## Tools Used to Watch Competitors - Public domain information such as ... - Newspapers, journals - Radio, television - Internet, information databases - Company publications - Official publications by government authorities - Reports, statistics, etc. - Patent documents ## The Patent Document A patent document as a source of information contains: - Bibliographic Information - Technical Information - Legal Information ## A - Bibliographic Information - Patent Number - Issued Date - Application Number - Filing Date - IPC [International Patent Classification] - Priority Data - Applicant/Assignee - Inventor(s) - Field of Search - References Considered/Cited - Representative(s) - Title - Abstract - Number of Claim(s) - Number of Drawing(s) - Number of pages of the Specification and Claim(s) - Drawing(s) to be published in the Official Gazette ## B - Technical Information - Title - Description (Disclosure, Specification) ## C - Legal Information - Claim(s) ## Structure of a Patent Application - Specification - Claims - Drawings (if appropriate) - Abstract ## Contents of the Specification ### 1. Title of the Invention The title should be as short and specific as possible & should appear as a heading on the first page of the specification. All fancy names are not permissible. Acceptable technical terms should be used. ### 2. Background of the Invention This invention relates to a method of repelling insects, and more particularly to a method for repelling mosquitoes using a natural ingredient, emu oil. Know natural oils that repel insects include rotundial (from the leaves of Vitex rotundifolia, Watanabe K, et al. (1995); citonella oil (e.g. US Pat. No. 5,346,992), etc. However, the only active ingredient registered by the EPA as a topically applied insect repellent is N,N-diethyl-toluamide (DEET). When applied to children's skin, DEET has been implicated in causing convulsions. ### 2. Background of the Invention (cont.) As a result of these problems and other side effects, New York State has banned products comprised of 100% DEET. Accordingly, there remains a need for a natural, safe substance which acts to repel biting insects when topically applied to the skin. ### 3. Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a method for repelling biting insects comprising the step of topically applying emu oil to the skin of the subject. ### 4. Detailed Description of the Invention - Meatiest Section of a patent - Adequately and accurately describe the invention - A general explanation of the invention and how to practice it - Specific examples of how to practice the invention ### 4. Detailed Description (cont.) The present invention provides a method of repelling biting insects using emu oil, a natural and safe substance. In the preferred embodiment, pure emu oil is applied to the skin. The following examples are presented as a further guide to the practitioner of ordinary skilled in the art, and are not to construed as limiting the invention in any way. ### 4. Detailed Description(cont.) #### Example 1 To determine the effectiveness of the diluted emu oil, the emu oil was diluted with ethyl acetate to a fixed percentage, applied to one hand and inserted into a mosquito cage. The number of hands were recorded. The experiments were performed in duplicate at each dilution level. Results shown in Table 1. | % EMU oil | No. of lands (Expt. 1) | No. of lands (Expt. 2) | No. of lands (Expt. 3) | |---|---|---|---| | 0 | 10 | 9 | 9.5 | | 0.50 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | 1.0 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | 5.0 | 6 | 4 | 5 | | 10.0 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 | | 25.0 | 2 | 1 | 1.5 | | 50.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 75.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 100.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ### 4. Claims A method for repelling biting insects comprising the step of topically applying emu oil to the skin of a subject. ### 6. Abstract This invention relates to a method for repelling biting insects such as mosquitoes by topically applying emu oil to the skin. ## V-The Practical Use of Each Component of Patent Information ### Analyzing the applicants / proprietors (further) - Inventors - IPC symbols #### Allows to find - Cooperating companies, employers, market leaders, competitors, Company having specific technology, Competitor's technology - Top inventors in a company, inventor teams, experts in a specific field of technology, networks - Fields of expertise, R&D focus ### Analyzing the priority data (dates) - Title, Abstract, Detailed Description and Drawing #### Allows to find - Creativity chart of an inventor, evolution/origin of a technology, Identify patent rights term - Prior art, new idea, solution to technological problem, process to develop product, check patentability, relationship of each technology, new research theme ### Analyzing the Claims - Country - Patent Number #### Allows to find - Scope of protection - Country's technology portion - Specific patent, search patent family ## Questions solved by Patent Information Patent Information shows what is occurring in a particular technological area... - What are the subjects where research is being done? - What are the emerging research lines? - Which are the players in a technical field? - Which are the leading research teams? - What are the technological trends? - What are the patenting trends? - What are the technology portfolios of a company? - What are the technical strategies of a company? ## Analysis of Patent Information - For finding protected / unprotected information/public domain - For finding out time limits and geographical limits of the protected information - For finding licensors or licensees - For finding infringers - For finding existing solutions to technical problems - For finding translations to avoid ## Patent Information and the public domain Technology disclosed in a patent document may be in the public domain if... - The patent application has not been filed in a given country. - The patent has not been granted. - The patent term has expired, or the patent has lapsed. - The disclosed information is not covered by the claims. ## Reasons Raised for Not Using Patent Information - Do not consider patent information to be useful or relevant to the company. - Do not know enough about patent information. - The cost of acquiring the information is too high. - Can get this information from newspaper, journal or other literature. ## Reasons for Searching Patent Information - To check whether an invention may be patented. - To check that a product does not infringe an existing patent. - To keep track of the market and competitors. - To keep abreast of technological developments generally (lifelong-learning). - To get information in response to a specific technological problem. - To license in new technology. ## Classic Uses of Patent Information - **Prior art search** - Search for related prior art (How is the proposed invention different from previous inventions?) - **Patentability search** - Used by patent offices and by patent agents (Is this invention novel?) - **State of the art search** - Search a technology field (What have others done already?) - **Infringement search** - Look for infringing patents (Who is infringing on our invention?) ## Uses of Patent Information: Business and Policy - Track research activities of competitors - Identify opportunity for licensing and joint ventures - Review trends in specific areas of technology ## Business Value - **Reduce costs** - Allocation of resources to most productive activities, avoid 're-inventing the wheel' - **Reduce risk** - Freedom to operate; identify winning projects - **Improve productivity** - IP Management processes - **Increase revenue** - Faster time to market; licensing opportunities, etc ## The Context - R&D Policy - Research and development activities are major drivers of economic growth. - Increasing the productivity of R&D is a critical policy issue. - Patent data is a measure of R&D activity ## Innovation Support ### How can patent information help? - Patent searches integrated into the R&D experience can avoid wasted resources - Patent information as a research tool - Licensing-in opportunities - Access to the state of the art ## Searching and Retrieving Patent Information - By using the filing number or publication number - By using references found in a patent document - To find prior art - To find possible infringers - By using the bibliographic data - By using the International Patent Classification - By using well chosen key words ## Opportunities for Exploiting Patent Information - Most patent collections are now digitised. - Internet tools and databases make exploitation more cost-effective. - Opportunities exist to open patent information to new categories of users - SMEs, researchers, general public. - Better flows of information lead to efficiency gains in the real economy - reduction in duplicated research and development effort. ## IPC Search Files The IPC search files are bibliographic data of patents chronologically filed according to the International Patent Classification (IPC). ## International Patent Classification (IPC) - An instrument for the orderly arrangement of patent documents - An instrument for investigating the state of the art in any given field of technology ## International Patent Classification (IPC) - A basis for the preparation of industrial property statistics - A hierarchical system in which the whole area of technology is divided into a range of sections, classes, subclasses, and groups and subgroups. ## Classification-based Searching ### Advantages: - Gives more complete results than text searching - Independent of the language of the text - Independent of the changes in terminology ### Disadvantages: - Complex structure of classifications - Requires study of classification rules ## Hierarchical Structure of IPC ### Sections - Human Necessities - Performing Operations - Chemistry - Fixed Construction - Textile; Paper - Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating; Weapons; Blasting - Physics - Electricity ## A complete classification symbol comprises the following: ### B64C 25/30 actually concerns "EMERGENCY ACTUATED CONTROL OR LOCKING SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING MECHANISMS FOR RETRACTABLE, FOLDABLE OR THE LIKE NON-FIXED UNDERCARRIAGES USED IN ALIGHTING GEAR FOR AEROPLANES OR HELICOPTERS." - Section - Class - Subclass - Main Group - Subgroup - Group ## Procedures in Classifying 1. Study carefully and identify accurately the technical subject of invention to be classified, the subject matter to which the invention is essentially concerned. 2. Use the catch word Index to locate the place covering the subject to be classified. 3. Consider the subject in question from an intrinsic nature and a particular field of use. 4. If the use of the catchword index does not lead to a pertinent class, scan the "contents of the sections" which are found at the beginning of each section of the IPC. 5. Scan the eight sections, then identify the class, subclass and finally the main group or the lowest order subgroup which is still wide enough in scope to cover the essential characteristics of the invention to be classified. 6. Consult any notes or reference appearing in the titles of subsection or classes because these information may help in classifying the invention. 7. The Special Rules on classification may be applied when necessary. ## Principles & Rules on Patent Document Classification ### Tips - Search the database to locate relevant documents by using "keywords" that defines the invention. - Look in the bibliographic data or on the first page which IPC symbols occur most frequently. - Check their exact definition in the IPC manual before using them. ### Example 1 The present invention relates to a so-called sweet toy which consists, in particular, of foam sugar paste and fruit gum. To attract the urge to play or the interest in playing with a sweet of this type and to extend the possibilities of play, the sweet toy is characterized in that it consists of at least three separate layers, the top layer and the bottom layer each consisting of a foam sugar shell of rounded shape having a porous surface and a flat cross-section, and at least one intermediate layer being formed as an essentially disc-shaped or bar-shaped layer of fruit gum. The shape and the sequence of the different layers corresponds to an imitation of the different layers of a traditional "hamburger". The last three layers of the sweet toy according to the invention can be fixed in their mutual positions by an outer coating. Apart from the known hamburger imitation, the sweet toy can likewise be formed as a frankfurter sausage imitation, a fish roll imitation, club sandwich imitation and the like. ## ...many thanks...