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FAQ searching
Can I search for a patent-holder?
Yes. Applicant names are not completely standardised, however, and particular care should be taken with acronyms and abbreviations. If, for example, you wish to search for IBM patents, you should also try entering "International Business Machines". In order to retrieve all variants, you should also use truncation and alternative spellings when searching for inventor and applicant names.
Can I search for a non-patent literature (XP) document?
Yes. However, only documents which have been classified and/or cited in a search report produced at the EPO are available. It is not possible to retrieve an XP document by the name of the author, nor is it possible to limit a search to XP documents only. When searching for a specific article, you must enter the XP accession number in the publication number field.
Please see the non-patent literature help file.
How can I use keywords to retrieve patents?
You can search for one word only (eg bicycle) or more than one word (up to a maximum of four).
If you enter more than one word (eg frame bicycle) in the title or abstract field, only those documents will be retrieved in which all the words appear.
You do not need to type the Boolean operator AND to combine your search words as it is the default operator in this field.
You can of course use the NOT operator to exclude certain words or the OR operator to add synonyms to your search query. Do not use apostrophes, slashes or hyphens but blanks (spaces) within the search fields.
Have a look at the truncation help file.
Can I search for a phrase?
Yes, you can search for a phrase using quotation marks (eg "bicycle frame"). This will retrieve only those documents in which the exact phrase is present.
Can I use truncation or wildcards?
Please see the truncation
help file.
Can I use apostrophes, slashes and hyphens ?
No. These characters should be replaced by blanks (spaces).
How can I expand my search?
Please see the Boolean operators
and nested queries
help files.
How can I narrow my search?
Please see the Boolean operators
and nested queries
help files.
How can I exclude records?
Please see the Boolean operators
and nested queries
help files.
What are the default operators?
Please see the default operators
help file.
How can I optimise my search?
Optimum results can be obtained by searching using a combination of the IPC/ECLA
and abstract fields.
How do I enter a number?
Please see the application number
, priority number
and publication number
help files.
How can I retrieve all documents having a particular country code?
To retrieve all the documents having a particular country code (eg GB), all you have to do is enter the country code in the application, priority or publication number field.
Do I need to enter the kind code?
Please see the kind codes
help file.
Where can I find a list of kind codes?
Please see the kind codes
help file.
What is an application number?
Please see the application number
help file .
What is a priority number?
Please see the priority number
help file.
What is a publication number?
Please see the publication number
help file.
Can I enter a date range?
Due to system limitations, it is not possible to search within date ranges. Please see the publication date
help file.
What is ECLA?
Please see the European classification
help file.
How can I view the text of a specific ECLA class?
Click on the red symbol (eg A01B1/00) on the right-hand side to view the details.
What is the IPC?
Please see the International Patent Classification
help file.
Why do I sometimes retrieve fewer results than with the old esp@cenet®?
This is due to the fact that we now only show one document per patent family, thereby eliminating duplicates. Please see the patent family
help file.
What does the description of a patent cover?
Please see the description
help file.
What is a claim?
Please see the claims
help file.
What is a cited document?
Please see the cited documents
help file.
Why do I sometimes find the abstract of a corresponding document?
The aim of esp@cenet® is to have an English-language abstract available for each set of corresponding patents (also known as "equivalents"). When a document retrieved during a search does not have an English abstract, but there is one available for a corresponding document, the latter is displayed. Please see the corresponding documents
help file.
Why are some tabs deactivated for certain documents?
Although the esp@cenet® database is continually being expanded to include additional countries and more extensive coverage, we do not have all items of data for all documents. For example, we may have the bibliographic data for a particular document, but not the full text or the images. In this case, the tabs normally used for accessing this data will be deactivated. Please see the bibliographic data
and coverage
help files.
Why does a list of documents with the heading "Also published as" sometimes appear and what are these documents?
A single invention can be the subject of patent applications in many different countries. In esp@cenet®, these related applications are known as corresponding documents, and it is these that are listed under the "also published as" heading. Selecting any of them will give you access to a facsimile, allowing you to read the document in the language of your choice, in the knowledge that the content is very similar, if not identical (except for the language), to that of the document retrieved in the course of your search. Corresponding documents will only be listed if available in facsimile form. Please see the corresponding documents
help file.
What do A1, A2, A3 and B stand for after an EP publication number in the "Also published as" list?
Please see the bibliographic data
and kind codes
help files.
Can I open multiple browser windows?
Yes. It is possible to open one or more browser windows to enable multiple document views at the same time. Simply right click on the title, for example, whilst in the results list, and then select the "Open in new window" item.
Do I need to enable cookies on my PC?
Yes. If you don't, you may not be able to save documents in the "my patents list", or print or see in the print preview more than the first page, or even view the last results list. Please check your internet settings.
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