Is Your Patent Search Sophisticated Enough?

Patents have the power to change the world. The lightbulb, the telephone, the internal combustion engine, the computer, Bluetooth – these are just a small selection of patented inventions that have shaped the way that we communicate, do business, travel, and live more comfortable lives. Although they seem everyday now, these inventions were appraised with no previous examples for reference. So, it makes sense that while patent examiners must have attained at least a bachelor’s degree in science or engineering, many fulfilling the role will also have obtained master’s degrees and PhDs. They must possess sophisticated skillsets to do their job – which makes the notion of relying on something as simplistic as Google, Bing or Yahoo, for even part of the process, just because it is ‘free’ all the more baffling.

“The origin of all technical achievements is the divine curiosity and the play instinct of the working and thinking researcher, as well as the constructive fantasy of the technical inventor.”

That quote comes from arguably the most famous person to ever hold the position of Patent Examiner – Albert Einstein. That’s right, before he received the Nobel Prize in Physics, the man responsible for the theory of relativity and the world’s most famous equation (E=mc²) was employed at the Swiss Patent Office in Bern.¹ It highlights the importance of not only the inventor in technological progression, but the researcher too. Patent Examiners are specialists. Theirs is not an entry level position, but an expansive one. The role is steeped in prestige and pedigree; offering an unusual opportunity to combine scientific and technical knowledge with legal skills. Working at the forefront of technology and dealing with the latest and most challenging technical innovations – the tools they use should be precise, not basic. Which is where we come in.

The Dialog^® platform offers a highly specialised service – providing the apparatus required to create precision searches within an extensive range of online patent databases – enabling the most accurate and thorough patent research. Dating back to 1966, the Dialog platform predates even the World Wide Web as an information provider , and we have spent the intervening years developing and refining our platform. What we have to offer is not an entry-level tool, but a rich toolset for high-performing users. To get the most out of the platform, there is one crucial criterion, you have to be familiar with creating search strategies – the bread and butter of patent examination. Should you require any help developing custom search strategies, our team is always on hand to help you, whatever the sector or technology.

Interested in learning more about how the Dialog ^® platform can increase the efficiency and efficacy of your patent examination efforts? Click here to request a demo. Our latest whitepaper: The False Economy in Patent Searching is also available to download now.

1. Bodanis, David (2000). E = mc2: A Biography of the World’s Most Famous Equation. New York: Walker.