This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.
Patent examiners have access to several automated search tools for accessing foreign patents:
- Examiner’s Automated Search Tool (EAST)
- Web-based Examiner’s Search Tool (WEST)
- Foreign Patent Access System (FPAS)
- Derwent World Patents index (available on EAST and WEST)
The MPEP states: The foreign patents so obtained are available to examiners from the USPTO’s automated search tools such as the Examiner’s Automated Search Tool (EAST), the Web-based Examiner’s Search Tool (WEST), the Foreign Patent Access System (FPAS), and from the Foreign Patents Service Center in STIC.
These tools provide examiners with efficient access to a vast collection of foreign patent documents, enhancing their ability to conduct comprehensive prior art searches.