Other Helpful Patent Research Resources

Due Diligence

Additional Information for Difficult Countries

General Patent Info

• Annuities/Maintenance Fees
• Litigation
• Assignments

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Due Diligence

Site	Use	Link
Espace	search worldwide patents; find related patents	https://worldwide.espacenet.com/?locale=en_EP
EPO	search for European patents; also has post-grant fee and status information for patents validated in EU states	https://register.epo.org/regviewer?lng=en
USPTO Assignments	search the assignment records for US patents and applications; includes encumbrances and licenses of record	https://assignment.uspto.gov/patent/index.html#/patent/search
USPTO Patent Term Calculator	use this calculator to estimate the expiration date of your US patents	https://www.uspto.gov/patents/laws/patent-term-calculator
Unified Patents	free database of US patent litigation and PTAB proceedings	https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/
WIPO	database of PCT applications	https://patentscope.wipo.int/search/en/search.jsf
PCT Applicants Guides	information on rules for different countries; has info on paying annuity/maintenance fees	https://www.wipo.int/pct/en/guide/index.html
Presentation of Application Numbers	has formatting of application numbers for different countries; helpful for database searches	https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/standards/en/pdf/07-02-01.pdf

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Additional Information for Difficult Countries

• Africa
  • Adams & Adams Practical Guide to IP in Africa
• Brazil
  • http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/L9279.htm
  • https://www.gov.br/inpi/pt-br/servicos/patentes/custos
• China
  • EPO: https://www.epo.org/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/asian/china/search.html
• India
  • EPO: https://www.epo.org/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/asian/india/faq.html#faq-533
• Russia
  • EPO: https://www.epo.org/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/asian/russian-federation/russian-federation.html#faq-1139
  • WIPO: https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/pct/guide/en/gdvol2/annexes/ru.pdf

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General Patent Info

Annuity/Maintenance Fees

• Pre-Grant Annuities: https://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/pct/guide/en/gdvol2/annexes/ru.pdf
• EPO Renewal Fees: https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/natlaw/en/via/index.htm

Litigation

• Naming Exclusive Licensee as Defendant, Exclusively, Leads to Dismissal of Declaratory Judgment Action
• Substance Over Labels: Establishing Standing in Patent Infringement Suits
• United States: Plaintiff Did Not Have Standing To Pursue Patent Infringement Action Where Inventor Assignment Was Not Automatic

Assigments

• Patent Assignment: A Basic Guide
• Employment Agreements for Employee-Inventors Should Be Drafted to Assign Patent Rights at the Time the Agreement is Signed Rather than Requiring Later Acts
• If Your Employment Agreements Use This One Word, Ownership of Your Patents May Be in Jeopardy
• When a Promise Isn’t Enough – Crafting Proper Employee Patent Assignments
• Patent Owners Should Mind Assignee Rights Restrictions