What automated search tools are available to patent examiners for accessing foreign patents?
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…
Read MoreHow are foreign patent documents organized in the USPTO?
Foreign patent documents in the USPTO are organized differently based on when they were received: Documents received before October 1, 1995: These were typically placed in the shoes in the Technology Center (TCs), organized according to the United States Patent Classification System (USPC) or, less frequently, the International Patent Classification (IPC) system. Documents received after…
Read MoreWhat is the Foreign Patent Access System (FPAS)?
The Foreign Patent Access System (FPAS) is one of the platforms used by the USPTO to make foreign patents available. According to MPEP 903.03, Foreign patents received by the Office after October 1, 1995 are available on the USPTO’s automated search systems, the Foreign Patent Access System (FPAS), Internet sites, and the Scientific and Technical…
Read MoreWhat automated search tools are available to patent examiners?
According to MPEP 902.03(e), patent examiners have access to several automated search tools on their desktop computers: Examiner’s Automated Search Tool (EAST) Web-Based Examiner Search Tool (WEST) Patents End-to-End Search tool (SEARCH) Foreign Patent Access System (FPAS) The MPEP states: “EAST, WEST, and SEARCH provide examiners with access to the: (A) full text of U.S.…
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