Patent searching  

By working through this tutorial you will:

• explore a number of patent websites
• use classification searches
• access Library databases
• in many cases locate the full text patent

Intellectual Property Management policies.

Patents are one type of Intellectual Property, others include: trademarks, designs, copyright, circuit layout rights, plant breeder's rights and confidentiality/trade secrets.

"A patent is a right granted for any device, substance, method or process which is new, inventive and useful.  A patent is legally enforceable and gives the owner the exclusive right to commercially exploit the invention for the life of the patent."

View IP Australia definition: http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/patents/what_index.shtml

Patents are a primary source of technical and detailed information including drawings and diagrams. 80% of patent literature is not published in any other form.

Patents:

• offer the earliest source of information
• provide all the details of the invention
• show what competitors are doing
•  display trends in technology and the key players
• avoid duplication and legal disputes if searched prior to manufacturing a product
  list prior art (existing literature)