EN:Applicant

With the applicant search, searches for companies can be carried out or existing searches can be limited to specific companies.
Automatic competitor monitoring can also be created using the applicant search.

There are basically 2 ways to search for applicants in the applicant search block:
1, Query - The applicants can be typed in and searched for directly as text/query.
2, Selection - With the help of the search assistant, the applicant can be searched for and then the desired spellings can be selected from a list.

There are different Options for both possibilities.

Query

The applicants can be typed in and searched for directly as text/query.
Here, as in the text search, Boolean logic and truncation can be used.

Example

Will find all patents that contain both terms in one applicant's name.

Selection

As soon as selection is selected, the applicant name can be searched for using the search assistant.
The desired applicant names can then be included in the search. (Apply)

This process is the same for all selectable options except automatic applicant grouping.

If the "Selection: Original (Automatic grouping)" option is selected, automatic applicant grouping can be used in the search assistant ("Automatic grouping").

Automatic groups can be searched for in the upper search field.
If you click on a group in the upper list, all spellings of this group are displayed in the lower list.
Both lists can be filtered and entries can be included in the search from both lists.
(Right Arrow - Button)

If an entry from the list above is included in the search, all spellings of this group are automatically included in the search.

If only selected spellings are taken from a group using the lower list, a half-filled circle is displayed in the corresponding group in the upper list. This means that only parts of this group are used in the search.

Options

Automatic applicant grouping

Search for automatically grouped applicant names.

Manual applicant grouping

Search for created applicant groups.

Owner

Search for the patent’s owner.
In case a patent is sold to a new owner, the applicant’s name remains the same.
Therefore it is possible to search for the patent’s owner by using the “Owner” feature.
The information regarding the owner are extracted from the INPADOC database (Legal status data of the European Patent Office).
If no corresponding information is available, the "Owner" corresponds to the original applicant name.

EPO Standard

Search for the standardised name assigned by the EPO.
List of standardised names assigned by the EPO see "List of standardised applicant names".

Original

Search for „non-standardised“ names, as entered by the applicant in the request for grant.

Non Latin

Search for non-Latin applicant names.
For example, Asian applicant names can be searched with this option.

Currently, the following countries/languages are available for this:

• China
• Taiwan
• Japan