EP full-text search allows users to search European patent applications and granted patents, with features like full-text search, saving search queries, and machine translation. It can be accessed for free online through EPO and supports searching over 60 criteria. Downloads are available in various formats like PDF, XLS and CSV up to a limit of 1500 entries. The database is updated weekly on Wednesdays with content from 1978 to present.

1. EPO-EP Full-Text Search
By-
Ankit Kapoor
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2. EP full-text search
EP full-text search enables you to search
European patent applications (A documents) and
granted patents (B documents) and monitor new
publications as they appear. It features advanced
search capabilities, including full-text searching.
The interface is available in English, French and
German.
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3. With EP full-text search you can:
 Perform your searches in a secure (https) environment and
save queries for later use (in browser cookies &
downloadable for later reference)
 Use over 60 search criteria
 Access the original document in PDF
 Machine-translate the titles, abstracts, descriptions and
claims of the retrieved documents using patent translate, all
in single, user friendly interface
 Display your search statistics graphically for assignee, IPC
classes, and many more criteria
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4. How to access
EPO – EP full-text search is a free
web based service by EPO which
can be accessed without any
personal or corporate credentials.
EPO – EP full-text search can be
found in a conventional Google
search as show in adjacent image.
Visit www.google.com and search
“EP full-text search”.
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5. Welcome to EP full-text search
To open the EP full-text search,
click on open button.
User Manual for EP full-text search
can be found in this page under
section “Getting Started”.
NOTE: When visiting fist time, application
loading may take some time.
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6. Login interface
In the login window, select EP full-
text search, also referred as EPAB.
NOTE: Paid access are visible with lock
mark.
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Query OR Search String Box
Criteria selection/help box
Index term box
Search History Box
Search Button
Operator selection/help box
Search/Result/Statistics tabs
User Interface for EP full-text search

8. Result List
Document box
Query box with current
search string
Document sections navigation toolbar
Result view
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9. 9
Display official publication
View multiple sections in single window
View next document
Search in current section
Full screen view
Document translation

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Menu (in UI top toolbar):
 Preferences: Set your user preferences, e.g. for customising the result list content
and document content.
 Download: Download e.g. your current result list (1-1500) or documents.
 Print: Print e.g. your current result list or document.
 Help: Access to this user manual, access to the forum to discuss the latest topics,
or click About to see the current version of the "Patent information services for
experts".

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Located in the UI top toolbar, on the
Preferences menu under “Result list
content”.
Located in the UI top toolbar, on the
Preferences menu under “Document
content”.
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The download feature is accessible in the UI top toolbar. The current limit is set at
1500 documents/result list entries. The download procedure starts with a data
preparation process carried out on the server side. This process includes wrapping the
data into a single zip file. Once prepared, the data is available for a two-hour
download procedure.
The Download menu contains two options:
 Prepare download: Opens a pop-up
window where you define the data, data
format and data range used by the
preparation process.
 Download manager: Opens a pop-up
window which includes the list of
prepared data ready for the download
process, or data being prepared.
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PDF RTF XML CSV XLS HTML
Search History      
Result List      
Documents      
Charts      
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Downloaded patent document
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15. Database content and update
EPAB is a cumulative database updated every Wednesday
at 14.00 hrs CET. This means that an “EPAB week”
starts/finishes on Wednesday at 14.00 hrs CET. For all
European patent applications (A documents) and patent
specifications (B documents) published from 1978 to the
present day, starting at EP 0000001 A1.
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16. EP full-text search VS ESPACENET
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Parameter EP full-text search ESPACENET
Search string Complex search string
Simple search string (Max.
20 terms)
Legal status  (Via EP Register)
Search history Browser cookies Requires sign-in
Result list Max. 1500 Max. 500
Customized download
(Result List, Batch download)
PDF, XLS, CSV
(Combined and individual)
XlS, CSV; PDF (individual
documents)
Customized patent
document download
In single PDF (individual,
concatenated and batch)
Separate files in case
translated text
Classification IPC only IPC and CPC
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17. For more queries, visit
EP full-text search
User manual
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