Inventor Book Reviews

Patent Searching on the Internet

Video, 60 minutes, $39.95, available from Anthem Inc., PO Box 62, Twinsburg, OH 44087.

Ever wish you could find out, right now, if your latest idea is unique? This video tape tells you exactly how you can.  Even at 2 a.m.!

It wisely cautions that your search results will not be absolute.  The patents available by computer today only date back to 1976.  In addition, no search, even a very thorough professional search, can find every possible bit of prior art.  But you can, quite often, save a $500 professional search fee and considerable time and effort if early on you find out your idea has been anticipated.  Obviously, no search can reveal if someone has a patent pending that covers your idea.  Also, vast numbers of other prior art sources exist -- patents in other countries, magazines, etc.

As the tape points out, yet another advantage to a quick computer search is the gaining of insight into what you really have invented.  Also, your will become familiar with patent terminology.

All of this at no cost! Provided, of course, you own or have access to a computer.  To carry out a search, this tape recommends you have familiarity with Windows, a 386 or more advanced computer, 4 megabytes of RAM, a Netscape browser program, a monitor capable of 256 colors, at least a 14.4K modem and a sound board and speaker.

This tape will introduce you to the "Boolean search method".  You can, by using the proper words (singularly or in combinations), quickly narrow down the list of patents that may incorporate your idea.  It gives an example in which a list of 8,820 patents was quickly reduced to a manageable list of 132 patents.

Another very valuable search technique discussed and demonstrated involves establishing what class and subclass the Patent Office would probably assign to your invention.

Yet another powerful tool is to be able to produce a list of patents of a particular inventor known to work in the area of your idea or a list of patents assigned to a particular corporation which manufactures similar items to your invention.

It discusses some specialized patent lists available in fields such as AIDS research and biotechnology.

In addition, the tape also gives information on some commercial services, which, for a fee, will do trademark searches.  Several foreign patent offices also provide services for a fee.

How to locate your nearest patent depository library is discussed.  There you can make copies of patents stored on microfilm.  This includes the drawings which are not yet available on your computer.

One of the excellent features of this video is that all information is given slowly.  For example, you can readily write down the computer addresses given.  Too often one encounters instruction tapes that seem to be in a rush to cram information into you and assume you already know certain fundamentals.

This tape is the first of a planned three-part series.  The next tapes will cover how to put your invention on a Web page and how to market your invention.