Important note: The patent process and patent searching are complex activities. The Cal Poly Pomona Library does not have the search tools or the staff expertise required for thorough patent searching. Patent search tools and trained staff are available at Patent Depository Libraries. UC Riverside, Los Angeles Public Library, and San Diego Public Library are the Patent Depositories closest to campus.
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Most patents 1790 to present are now available. The pre-1976 patents are available as image files. A plug-in is required to view images -- read the information page on accessing full-page images. You can also order patents from USPTO. The USPTO website also provides general information on patents and trademarks, the patent process, forms, fees, and more.
Google Patent Search
Search patents from the USPTO database. PDF copies can be downloaded.
esp@cenet
Information service of the European Patent Office; search for European (EP) patents.
Lexis-Nexis
Available to Cal Poly Pomona students, faculty, and staff, Lexis-Nexis provides access to U.S. patents, European patents (1978+), Patent Abstracts of Japan (1976+). At the first Lexis-Nexis screen look for the red "Legal" button in the top banner. At the next screen look for "Patents" in the right column. Text only; no images.
Get U.S. Patents in PDF format:
Intellectual Property Resources at the Los Angeles Public Library
The LAPL (Central Library), a U.S. patent depository, has the largest collection of U.S. patents on the West Coast -- a complete collection dating from 1790. Patent search tools are also available.
Invention Dimension
Homepage of The Lemelson-MIT Awards Program. Information about the award and its winners. Also, lots of information about inventors, inventions, and inventing. Resources for inventing, including "Inventor's Handbook ."
Patent Searching Tutorial
From the University of Texas, an excellent guide to patent searching.
What Every Chemist Should Know About Patents and 2006 Supplement
A guide from the American Chemical Society. While the guide is written for chemists and chemical engineers, it provides an excellent overview for anyone interested in patents or the patent process.
World Intellectual Property Organization
WIPO is an international organization "dedicated to promoting the use and protection of works of the human spirit." The site includes information about WIPO and its activities, international treaties, information about intellectual property from an international perspective.
Ann Morgan
aemorgan@csupomona.edu
