Patent Search

Before you consider filing a patent, you should undertake a patent search to find out whether your new product idea / technology has been patented before. And you don’t no need to pay anyone to do it, if you have an hour or two to spare.

There are four main databases you can use to carry out a free basic patent search. You can also visit your local Patents Library.

Ipsum

The IPO’s free online service, Ipsum, allows you to check the status and access data on all UK patent applications, whilst obtaining copies of available documents from the open part of published patent applications after 1st January 2008.

Using Ipsum, it’s possible to view up-to-the-minute information on patents, see which classifications and fields of search have been used and submit observations regarding the patentability of a published patent application prior to a full patent being granted (under Section 21 Observations).

The downside to Ipsum, is you need to know the application or publication number to carry out the search, but once you know either of these numbers, you get to know the information such as application Number, publication number, application status, filing date, applicant / proprietor and inventor plus more.

Searchable Patents Journal

You can also do a search via the Searchable Patents Journal for new UK patent applications from 2006 and onwards. To search… all you have to do is select UK Applications Published or UK Applications Granted. Select the from and to dates and type in what you are looking for in the ‘refine’ box, and press submit.

Espacenet

Espacenet and the European Patent Register provides free access to more than seventy million patent documents from across the globe. It features comprehensive data on inventions and technical developments from 1836 to the present day. The great thing about searching via Espacenet is that you can search using the multiple parameters, including patent classification and keywords

If you have invented a new ‘hair brush’, all you have to do is go-to Advanced Search and type in ‘hair brush’ in either the ‘Title’, ‘abstract’ or ‘keyword’ fields or a combination of them to see all the relevant patents.

Patentscope

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) database allows you to search fifty two million patent documents, including nearly three million published international patent applications, as well as regional and national patent collections from thirty eight participating authorities. There are three core methods of searching the Patentscope database :

Simple search where you can submit keywords in six different fields to get the most relevant results for your search, including names, dates and ID/number.
Advanced search where the ‘Advanced Search’ functionality allows users to submit an unlimited number of keyword combinations. Queries containing field codes and Boolean expressions or keywords can also be searched for in this advanced mode.
Field combination search where you can perform a more targeted search using specific search criteria in any search field e.g. title, abstract or description.

Your local patent library

Alternatively, you can visit a Patent Library (PatLibs), previously known as Patent Information Centres in Aberdeen, Birmingham, Cambridge, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Northampton, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, and Sheffield, where qualified staff will help you undertake a free search. (charges apply if you want copies of any patent document).

Services available at most Patent Libraries are :

Information on IP, copies of IPO and EPO literature
Advice on searching
Free public access to internet, IP information resources, databases
Fee based document supply service
Commissioned novelty, current awareness and other IP searches
Bespoke training sessions
Public Availability Date service
Business Information Advice Sessions
Referrals to other advice/service providers
Comprehensive, fully-funded support programme for businesses specifically looking to grow