What role does the Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC) play in foreign patent access?
The Scientific and Technical Information Center (STIC) plays a crucial role in providing access to foreign patents and related information. According to MPEP 903.03:
STIC’s collections are international in scope and include foreign patents, non-patent literature, designs, trademarks, and legal information. There is an assortment of resources which reflect the information needs of examiners and researchers working in various fields of science and technology.
The STIC staff is particularly valuable for their expertise in:
- Foreign patent data retrieval
- Patent family searches
- Document retrieval services for non-patent literature
Additionally, the STIC houses the Translations Service Center, which can assist examiners with language-related issues in foreign patents.
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