WIPO, short for the World Intellectual Property Organization, is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It was established in the year 1967 with the aim to promote the protection and effective use of intellectual property worldwide. It serves as a global platform for IP services, policy development, information exchange and international cooperation. WIPO traces its origins to BIRPI (United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property), an organization formed in 1893 to administer international IP treaties.
Among the many services offered by WIPO is Patentscope, which is the official WIPO patent search database. Using this tool, the users can search millions of patent documents across the world. In this blog post, we shall explain how to conduct WIPO patent search using this tool.
WIPO patentscope is a free global patent search database. It is managed by the World Intellectual Property Organization. The database gives access to more than 128 million patent documents. These include international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, national patents and regional patent collections.
The WIPO patentscope database lets you conduct WIPO PCT patent search and provides access to PCT applications on the day they are published. It also includes patent databases from more than 50 countries and regions. The platform can translate and expand your search terms into different languages. This helps users find foreign patents even if they were filed in another language.
Many inventors, researchers, IP attorneys and the general public use patentscope WIPO for many purposes. They use it to check whether an invention is new before filing a patent application. They also use the tool so they can closely track prevailing global patent trends, monitor competitors' patent activities and access international filing documents as well as patent status information.
To conduct WIPO patent search using the WIPO patent database, you need to follow the simple and easy steps we have explained below:
Step 1: Visit the official WIPO website @ https://www.wipo.int/portal/en/index.html.
Step 2: Once you are on the homepage, go to the dashboard and then click on ‘Find & Explore’. After that, under the ‘Patent & Technology Information’ section, click on ‘Patentscope’ option.
Step 3: Now, a new page will appear on your screen. Here, you need to click on the ‘Access Patentscope’ blue button.
Step 4: Thereafter, the WIPO patentscope simple search tool will appear on your screen.
Step 5: In the tool, you need to enter the ‘field’ using the drop-down menu from these options: front page, any field, full text, claims, all numbers and IDs, all classifications, all names or publication date.
Step 6: Then, according to the field you choose, enter the relevant information and click on the search button.
Step 7: Based on the information you entered in the tool, the patentscope database will display the WIPO patent search results.
Also Read: How to Conduct USPTO Trademark Search?
The benefits of conducting WIPO patent search with the help of the patentscope system are as follows:
The database allows you to search millions of international Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications.
The database also provides access to national and regional patent documents from various countries and patent offices across the world.
Before applying for a patent, you can use this tool to check whether a similar patent already exists. If it does exist, you can save your time as well as money by not filing a patent application.
The system can automatically translate and expand search keywords across multiple languages. This feature of the system reduces the chances of missing out on relevant international patents merely because of language barriers.
Patentscope WIPO is available free of charge. Therefore, you can use it without paying any fees.
Patentscope is a patent search engine and database managed by WIPO. It lets you search millions of national and regional patent documents from various countries and patent offices across the world. Best of all, it is completely free to use. There are no subscription charges for accessing its search features. If you are planning to obtain patent registration for an innovation, it is recommended to conduct patent search using this tool to determine novelty, avoid infringement and save on expensive R&D cost.
Q1. Which organization manages the patentscope database?
A. The World Intellectual Property Organization manages the patentscope database.
Q2. Can I search trademarks using the WIPO patentscope search database?
A. No, you cannot search trademarks using this database. To search trademarks, you need to use the WIPO global brand database instead.
Q3. Can a patent be registered in more than one country?
A. Yes, a patent can certainly be registered in more than one country. Under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, you can file one international patent application and apply for patent protection in many member countries.
Q4. Why is a patent granted?
A. A patent is granted for a new invention like a new software, a new medicine, a new make up product, etc. It gives the inventor a legal monopoly over their invention for a limited period of time. This allows them to manufacture, use, sell or license the invention.
Q5. Is it free to use the patentscope simple search tool?
A. Yes, it is free to use the patentscope simple search tool. Even the patentscope advanced search tool is free of cost.
Ms. Kashish Kumar is a content writer with a background in legal studies and over five years of experience. She’s written extensively on legal topics and supported non-profits like PETA, CRY, and WWF. A passionate reader, she enjoys books and blogs alike.
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