The document discusses various topics related to patent searching and drafting patent claims including: 1) The purposes of conducting patent searches such as avoiding infringement and monitoring competitors. 2) Resources for conducting patent searches such as online databases and tools from patent offices which provide time-efficient and cost-effective access to comprehensive international patent information. 3) Key considerations for drafting patent claims including writing broad and narrow claims to fully cover the invention while avoiding prior art and unnecessary limitations.

1. Patent Search & Drafting Patent Claims Dr. Basavaraj Nanjawade KLE’s College of Pharmacy,JNMC Campus, Belgaum-10 [email_address] Dept. of Pharmaceutics Presentation; Belgaum-10 March 25th, 2006

3. Patent Databases Patent databases are an excellent source for extracting patent information which cannot be carried out at a reasonable price with conventional methods.

6. Advantage: Online databases Advantages of using online-databases in acquiring patent information time efficiency cost effectiveness comprehensiveness up-to-date information easily assessable information from your desk complete coverage on an international level

9. Maintain a current, knowledgeable position - current intellectual property portfolio possible patent infringement competitor research make informed business decision decide future research directions Current awareness information is critical for protecting an organization’s research and marketing endeavors

10. What information is needed? The state of the art in a research area New literature - technical and patent New substances - sequences, polymers, compounds, .. New technology/patent from key competitors Status of known patents New family equivalents New granted patents Post issue office actions Patent expiry dates

11. Current Awareness information is useful only when Relevant from a technical perspective Current Delivered in a meaningful way Challenges What should be monitored ? How often should the sources be checked ? Will the same literature be retrieved more than once? How much time will this activity consume / Can the process be automated ? How should the current literature be delivered ?

12. PATENT NUMBER & PATENT DATE TITLE INVENTORS ASSIGNEE / APPLICANT APPLICATION NUMBER & FILING DATES PRIORITY INFORMATION INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION NATIONAL CLASSIFICATION ABSTRACT

13. International Patent Classification (IPC) works as a universal classification for patents started in 1975 and periodically updated we currently use IPC 7th Edition. Section, Class & Group. The International Patent Classification looks like this: A 02 J 1 /00 Section Group SubGroup Class SubClass A 47 J 27/09 includes the safety device on your rice cooker B 63 G 11/00 covers your various aircraft carriers

14. US Patent Classification US Patents are classified with 400+ main classes and thousands of subclasses. 424 / 497 Class SubClass 514/470 drugs - nitrogen bonded directly to the hetero ring http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/

15. Monitoring patents of a particular company What are the most recent patents of this company? In what areas of technology is this company most active (answer based on its patenting activity)? In what countries does this company tend to seek patent protection for its invention? Have any of the company's patents expired or been reassigned to other companies or individuals? What patent applications of this company are pending at the which patent office?

16. Patent search Methods Text search Simple search Advanced search Syntax (command based) Number search Structure search

17. Patent search tools FREE Uspto Espacenet Depatis PAJ CIPO Many more patent office sites PAID CASWEB Delphion Intellectual Property Network Dialog GetThePatent.com IPOrganizer.com IP Search Engine Lexis-Nexis MicroPatent PATSCAN Questel Orbit Patent Database SCIFINDER Shadow Patent Office STN SurfIP.com

18. http://www.european-patent-office.org/online/index.htm The following list of patent related web-sites is maintained by the European Patent Office as a service to users.

19. Current awareness information can be obtained Periodic searches to accesses the state of art in an area at a given time. Automatic alerts to continuously monitor new literature in an area of interest.

20. Drafting patent claims

21. Goals of claim writing > Covering the invention > Should be as broad as possible > Avoid the prior art > No unnecessary limitations > Define the objective or goal of the invention > This will help avoid unnecessary limitations > The inventors way of achieving the objective

22. Writing claims > Broaden the scope of the embodiment > Writing the generic claim > Use enough claims to completely cover the invention

23. Basics > Specifications & claims: order > Single sentence > Multiple claims in logical order > Preamble (introduction, preface) > Avoid unnecessary limitations in preamble > May be used to limit the invention

24. Transition words * Comprises (include) * Other words can be used, but this has become standard * ‘Consisting’, ‘consisting essentially of’ * Excludes additional unspecified elements affecting the basic and novel characteristics of the product * Do not use unless required by the examiner

25. Body * Laudatory statements not allowed * Statements of advantages and purposes * Single sentence * Single paragraph form * Punctuation marks separate elements * Subparagraph forms enhance clarity

26. Dependent claims * Include all the limitations of the claim to which they refer * Introduce additional limitations * You cannot delete, only add elements * If broad claim is allowed, dependent claim will automatically be allowed * It will not be infringed by anything that does not infringe the basic claim-P.T.O DEFINATION

27. Numbering of dependent and independent claims # Dependant claim may be separated from the independent claim # Claim that depends on a dependant claim should not be separated # Run out the sequence of dependant claims before reverting # Make sure you need all the features of the independent claim before writing a dependant claim, otherwise write a fresh independent claim

28. Multiple dependant claims # Refers to more than one preceding claims in the alternative # Contains all the limitations of each of the claims to which it refers # Multiple dependant claims cannot depend on other multiple dependant claims

29. Process claim # Verbalization # Generic and specific terms in processes # ‘Distilling’ and ‘separating’ # Does the word require further clarification # Sequence of steps- if not clear would cover the steps performed in any order or simultaneously

30. Method and apparatus # Method claims cannot be rejected because they disclose an inherent function of the apparatus disclosed # Avoid apparatus limitations in a method claim # Materials limitations are often used in dependant process claims

31. Fingerprint claims ~ Claims to a new composition which cannot be distinguished in terms of physical or chemical structure ~ Can be explained in terms of properties ~ X-ray diffraction, solubility, melting point ~ Test is whether the invention is distinctly claimed

32. Use claims ~ New use of an old product ~ Not patentable as a product ~ How do you confer patentability ~ By adding a solvent ~ By specifying proportions ~ Generally not patentable unless the composition releases an unobvious amount of the drug or in a unique way

33. Types of claims ~ Jepson type claim ~ Generic and species claims ~ If no generic claim allowable then election as to species

34. Non art rejections ~ Duplicate claiming ~ Undue multiplicity ~ Old combination: over claiming ~ No longer basis of valid rejection ~ Avoid prior art in claims ~ Use Jepson format

35. THANKS