Guide to STN Patent Databases – Basic Version - Paton - TU Ilmenau

23 Legal status search
23.1 Introduction
23.1.1 Typical legal status searches
Types of search
A legal status search may be a separate search or part of a complex patent search (e.g. infringement search, freedom
to operate). Two types have to be distinguished:
Display of the legal status for given documents found in another search (e.g. number search)
Search for legal status entries in connection with another search (name search, subject search, classifcation
search, etc.)
Some of the databases allow only to display the legal status, but not to search for legal status entries.
23.1.2 Legal status data
Legal status data give details on a status change in the life of an IP right. They include a date, an event (plus code)
and details or additional information:
PI DE 19964362 B4 20100617
20110120 DE8339 - CEASED/NON-PAYMENT OF THE ANNUAL FEE
NIF Lapses, Expiries, Withdrawals, Refusals
.......................................20110120
23.1.3 Typical queries
Search by legal or procedure status or display of the legal or procedure status:
Has an examination request been filed?
Is the application still under examination? Has it been rejected or allowed?
In which countries is there an active patent protection?
Has anyone filed an opposition or a nullity action?
Possibly display of the opponent(s)
Has the opposition procedure been closed?
Have all annual fees been paid?
Has the term of protection been extended over the normal 20 years through a Supplementary
Protection Certificate (SPC)?
Search (display) of declaration of willingness to licence or licensee
Search (display) of change of ownership
Search (display) of lapsed patents in order to be able to use the technology (only 10% of all patent
literature is actually protected)
23.2 Databases with legal status data
Legal status data are regularly entered and updated in these databases:
INPADOCDB/INPAFAMDB
AR, AT, AU, BE, BR, CA, CH, CN, CO, CS, CU, CZ, DD, DE, DK, EA, EE, EP, ES, FI, FR, GB, HK, HU, IE, IL, IT,
JP, LT, LU, MC, MD, NL, NO, NZ, PH, PL, PT, RU, SE, SI, SK, TW, US, WO
Entry of PCT applications into the national phase:
AT, AU, BE, BG, BR, BY, BZ, CA, CH, CN, CZ, DE, EA, EG, ES, FI, GB, GE, HR, HU, IL, JP, KE, KR, LI (through
CH), LT, LV, MD, MX, MY, NZ, PH, PL, RO, RU, SE, SI, SK, US, UZ, WO, ZA
Non-entry of PCT applications into the national phase: CA, DE, JP, KR
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