Home - Patent Searching Workshop - UC Libraries - Research Guides at University of Cincinnati

Introduction

Patents provide legal protection to inventors and companies for up to 20 years provided by the government.
Patent literature is often the most current scientific or application-based literature. 10%-80% of information disclosed in patents is unique.

Disclaimer: This workshop is not intended to provide legal advice. Please consult a lawyer regarding questions regarding your own inventions, including filing for a patent and determining if an invention is patentable.

Basic Patent Searching

The Four Most Common Patent Search Engines:

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/search-bool.html
- U.S. patents only
- Full text availability
Google Patents
- https://patents.google.com/
- Best search functionality
- Mostly European and U.S. patents
Espacenet: International Patent Office
- https://worldwide.espacenet.com/
- Extensive historical patent coverage
- Patents in 14 languages and equipped with a language translator
Patentscope: World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO)
- https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf
- Patents from 30 countries

Library Guide on Patents

Patent Research Guide
Guide to major patent databases and other search tools.

Patent Searching Workshop - UC Libraries

Science & Engineering Librarian

LIbrarian Contact

Introduction

Basic Patent Searching

Library Guide on Patents