ncbiotech library presents: diy patent searching and free tools

DIY Patent Searching and Free Tools

Karin Shank & Lori MelliereNorth Carolina Biotechnology Center

Lunch & Learn - May 1, 2015

karin_shank@ncbiotech.orglori_melliere@ncbiotech.org

A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem. To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to the public in a patent application.

What is a Patent?

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Utility PatentsDesign PatentsPlant Patents

• Novel – hasn’t been previously made available to the public

• Non-obvious – must be sufficiently different from what’s already out there

U.S. Patents

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The provisional patent application is somewhat unique to the U.S. patent system. • Can be filed without formal claims• Establishes an earlier effective filing date• Lasts for 12 month

Provisional Patent Application

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Timeline

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Source: Angela de Wilton, “Patent Value: A Business Perspective for Technology Startups.” Technology InnovationManagement Review, December 2011. http://timreview.ca/article/501

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)www.uspto.gov

European Patent Office (EPO)www.epo.org

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) www.wipo.int• www.wipo.int/directory/en/urls.jsp

Selected Patent Offices

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Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)

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Espacenet worldwide.espacenet.com/

Global Patent Search Network (GPSN)gpsn.uspto.gov/

Google Patentswww.google.com/patents

The Lens (fka: Patent Lens)www.lens.org

Selected Global Search Options

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• Simple search box• Advanced search• Parts of a patent (abstract, claims, etc.)• Visualizations (charts, “family info” map)

Searching Lens.org

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• Browse USPC from here: http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/selectnumwithtitle.htm

• Browse CPC from here: www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/cpc.html

Patent Classification Codes

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Patent Classification Codes for Plants

Class 047 plant husbandry

Class 504 plant protecting and regulating compositions

Class 800multicellular living organisms and unmodified parts thereof and related processes

Class PLT plants

Class 71 Chemistry: fertilizers

Class 435/410 Plant Cell culture

Some Biotech-related Classifications

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Biotech Patents in North Carolina: (ccl/424/$ or ccl/435/$ or ccl/514/$ or ccl/800/$) and as/nc

• Search page– Seven Step Strategy– Full-text, PDF, or patent application database– Assignee vs. Inventor– Classification Codes

Searching the USPTO database

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• www.freepatentsonline.com• Set up saved searches, patent portfolios

and alerts

Free Patents Online

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• Keep abreast of patents by:

Alerts in a variety of formats

Email RSS

• Any questions or input?

Thanks!

Karin ShankResearch Librarian

Lori MelliereLibrarian

karin_shank@ncbiotech.org lori_melliere@ncbiotech.org

END – extra slides after in case needed

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• Orphan Drugs = 7 years• New Chemical Entity = 5 years• “Other” exclusivity = 3 years• Pediatric Exclusivity = 6 months added to

existing patents/exclusivity

Exclusivity (FDA)

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2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 20140

20

40

60

80

100

120

Plant-related Patents Granted in NC

Source: NCBiotech data analysis of USPTO data, using codes on previous slide.