Patent Searching for SEAS Students

The reasons to search for patents are numerous, as are the ways to conduct a good patent search. This guide provides a few examples demonstrating how to search for patents, especially as it relates to prior art searching. 

If you have questions please don't hesitate to contact me!

Granted patents and some patent applications are freely available from a variety of sources.

I believe using Espacenet (European Patent Office) is a better way to search for patents.  Espacenet provides training on search strategies, power tip, background information and more.

Google Patents - does not provide complete patent coverage compared to the USPTO and European Patent Office. Searching help for Google Patents

Searching by Classification

Keyword searching can get you to a few relevant patents, but searching by classification is a MUST. In 2015 the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) replaced the United States Patent Classification (USPC) system.

• Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)- hierarchy and description
• CPC scheme and CPC definitions
• CPC Training - The EPO and the USPTO have jointly prepared CPC training material to support users in their learning process of the CPC classification system.

General

• Why search for patents? MIT (5 minute video)
• How to read a U.S. patent document - Queen's University Library
• Seven Step Strategy - USPTO
• Patent Searching - tutorial from the University of Minnesota Libraries

Searching Espacenet

• Patent Searching Tutorial using Espacenet - great 8-minute video tutorial from the University of Michigan Library
• How to do a patent search - UCF Libraries
• Espacenet Assistant - "This interactive training course offers everything you need to use Espacenet efficiently: search strategies, power tips, background information and more"
  • e-learning centre - free courses from the European Patent Office 

Harvard Resources:

• Office of Technology Development (OTD)
  • Protecting Intellectual Property
  • News - each month the OTD provides a list of newly granted patents assigned to President and Fellows of Harvard College 

Miscellaneous:

• Collegiate Inventors Competition - National Inventors Hall of Fame
• Patents: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver - see how patent trolls abuse the patent system (YouTube video)