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According to the definition given in The UK Patent Office, a patent for an invention is granted by government to the inventor, giving the inventor the right for a limited period to stop others from making, using or selling the invention without the permission of the inventor.
Characteristics of patents:
- Patents cover a wide range of products and processesUnique source of information not always found in conventional literature such as books
- Generally quite narrow in scope, applying only to one particular product or process
- Written for specialists and may require expertise for comprehension.
How to Search for Patents:
- Patent Search Tutorial - an introductory patent searching tutorial created by the Penn State University Libraries
- McKinney Engineering Library - check out the page on Patent Searching: Tutorial and Guide to Online Resources and Information. An interactive tutorial to patent searching by the Universities of Texas Libraries
- 7-Step Strategy - a guide provided by the Patent and Trademark Depository Library on patent searching
Sources of Information:
- The European Patent Office - manages the unified patent system for member countries in Europe. The site provides an overview of the grant procedure, legal texts (European Patent Convention, regulations, case law, guidelines) and link to esp@cenet free patent search.
- Japan Patent Office - provides information on industrial (intellectual) property in Japan, including legislation and procedures. Provides online searching for Japanese patents and utility models, as well as trademarks.
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