Channeling the Future: What PTDL Resources Offer Sci-Tech ResearchersTom TurnerPatent and Trademark Depository Library ProgramU.S. Patent and Trademark Office

American Library AssociationJune 28, 2008

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The Scientist and the Engineer “The idea of design and development is

what most distinguishes engineering from science, which concerns itself principally with understanding the world as it is. Engineers throughout history have wrestled with problems of water not being where it was needed, of minerals not being close at hand, of building materials having to be moved.” (Henry Petroski, Invention by Design)

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Patent Literature

Over 63 million patent documents available electronically worldwide

Growing dramatically due partly to globalization

Average growth rate 29% for China and 12% for Korea from 2002-05

Majority of patent documents now published in non-English languages.

Source: Caraher, World Patent Information 30: 150-152 (2008).

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U.S. Perspective

U.S. anticipates that patent application filings will continue to rise at the rate of 8% a year, through 2012. Source: USPTO Strategic Plan 2007-2012: 10-11.

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Patents: Unique source of scientific technical information

70% of new technology disclosed in patents is not disclosed later elsewhere. Terapane, Chemtech 8: 272-6 (1978)

If information is disclosed first in a patent it is often the only source of that information. Bregonje, World Patent Information 27: 309-315 (2005)

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What do Sci-Tech Researchers Need from Patents?

Disclosure details--how to make (synthesis), manufacture, process, how and where to use, etc.

Track citations Review history of a technology Prepare for a patent application by

doing a patentability search

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If the researcher is involved with patent litigation:Information to defend against a

charge of infringementInformation to help to attack or defend

the validity of a patent Insight into the research/development

of a company(partial source: What Every Chemist Should Know about Patents,

American Chemical Society, 2006)

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Background of PTDL Program

Old Patent Office, Washington, D.C.

Public Search Room, Old Patent Office

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Selected Milestones of PTDLP

1871 - Printed patents offered to libraries on adepository basis.

1977 - 1st Patent Depository Conference.

1982 - CASSIS on-line database.

1989 - CASSIS CD-ROM implementation.

2000 - Complete patents DVD back file provided.

2003 - PubWEST databases offered to all PTDLS.

2008 –Network includes 85 member libraries.

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Types of PTDL Libraries

Public Libraries 31

Academic Libraries 45

State Libraries 8

Special Libraries 1

Total 85

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Libraries and Service Points

22 of the PTDLs have service points in dedicated science/engineering libraries or departments.

Some service points at other PTDLs have been consolidated to general reference desks.

All PTDLs can help sci-tech researchers.

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PTDL Program Office Resources

Training: Annual Training Seminars

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Training: On-Site at PTDLs

Oklahoma State University

Stillwater PTDL

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Training: Computer-Based Training

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Access to PubWEST Patent Databases

(Public Web-based Examiner Search Tool)

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Access to Cassis2 Patent & TM Databases(Classification and Search Support Information System)

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USPTO Programming at PTDLs

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Reference Support

Current Fellowship Librarians Alexis Carrasquel (LSU) and Dawn Rohan (Wyoming State Library) at USPTO’s Public Search Facility in Alexandria VA

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What PTDLs Are Doing to Help Sci-Tech Researchers

Patent Searching Workshops and Training for Sci-Tech Faculty and Students

Online Patent Searching Tutorials Tracking down Patent (domestic and

foreign) and Non-Patent Literature References in Patents

Finding English Language Equivalents Aiding Technology Transfer Offices

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Future Trends

Exploring new ways of getting information to sci-tech researchers who may be less likely to physically visit a PTDL (source: Baldwin, digitalcommons.unl.edu/library_talks/37)

Promoting awareness of USPTO Search Templates (www.uspto.gov/web/patents/searchtemplates/ (source: Baldwin, ibid)

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Increasing interest from sci-tech researchers in data mining and statistical analysis tools for patent data (USPTO has some free raw data access; statistical analysis tools are provided by commercial vendors).

Webinars as a means to train sci-tech librarians and possibly researchers.

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Improving accessibility to USPTO information by:Expanding searchable informationProviding streamlined access to

informationImproving search engine capabilitiesDeveloping and deploying a ‘search

aggregator’Source: USPTO Strategic Plan 2007-2012

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Questions?

“Mouse” U.S. Design Patent D519,509