How can patents be found?

Patents are usually found openly on the web. The search engine used will depend on the geographical area you are looking for:

  • Industrial property official newsletter. Newsletter which publishes all patents accepted in Spain.

  • INVENES. Search engine made available by the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office. It allows you to search for Spanish patents and also search Interpat (European) and Latipat (Latin American) for patents.

  • Esp@cenet. The search engine of the European Patent Office, which includes European patents, and also up to 70 different countries including the United States. The oldest date from 1920.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBTLZY3znWE

  • PatentScope. WIPO search engine which searches for international patents accepted since 1978.

  • Free Patents Online. Search engine for international patents, including the United States, Europe, Japan and WIPO. The oldest date from 1836.

  • Patent Lens. Search engine for international patents from the United States, Europe, Australia and WIPO.

  • Google Patent Search.

A collection of free search engines is also available from the European Patent Office.

As well as free search engines, patents are available from paying databases, such as Westlaw International or Derwent Innovations Index, included in the ISI Web of Knowledge package (you can access them thought UOC Library:).

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