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Why haven’t
I heard of TPR before?
TPR came into being at the prompting of a select group of Fortune
500 clients. These clients needed a search firm with the capabilities
of being able to back up their corporations’ own in-house,
high powered patent search teams. They needed a firm that they
could rely on, and which they knew would be able to conduct
searches to an especially high standard.
That was in 1995, and our client base has grown steadily ever
since, mostly through referrals. Since the beginning, our aim
has always been to build a relationship with each client in
order to understand their particular requirements and preferences,
rather than offer a ‘one size fits all’ solution.
What makes TPR different from other
search firms?
Many search firms have a standard procedure that they follow
when carrying out a search, e.g. by a manual type of classification at one of
the patent offices. One particular strength of TPR is our knowledge
of the many different search approaches available utilizing online
databases, the Internet and the patent and non-patent
literature resources available at patent offices and special
libraries worldwide. We like to take a step back when we assess
a search in order to determine the best approach to meet the
objectives, as well as take into account any budget considerations.
That is true whether we are considering a simple assignee search,
or a critical validity case that may involve searching multiple
resources in different languages.
TPR does not have a conflict of interest over which databases
or information sources to search, since it does not have an
affiliation or vested interest in any database producer, database
host system or information publisher. This makes TPR free to
select the best sources of information for the job and for the
benefit of the client.
This is a very important case
for us, how do I know that my search is being handled by someone
with the right technical knowledge and search experience?
A vital part of the search process is to consider the technology
being studied and match it with a searcher who has expertise
in that particular area. TPR searchers have a university
degree in a science subject, and may additionally hold a PhD.
Our online searchers may also hold an information related Masters
qualification (e.g. Master of Library Science, MLS). Our standard
requirement is for a searcher to have several years of experience
in searching before joining TPR. Our online searching experts,
for example, each currently has a minimum
of 10 years experience, placing them in the top echelons of
their profession.
What subjects does TPR specialize
in searching?
Frequent topics for searching encompass Pharmaceuticals, Plastics/Polymers,
Agrochemicals, other Chemicals, Chemical Structures, Biotechnology and Biosequences,
Medical Devices, Mechanical Devices and Electronics from Telecommunications
and Devices, through to Semiconductors, etc. The list is too
extensive to mention every topic individually, so please call
to discuss how we can help in your particular subject area.
What is the difference between
getting a search done by information professionals and using
the information that is now freely available on the Web?
The Internet is a great resource and we use the information available
on the web whenever we feel it will give the desired results. Nevertheless,
much of the information that is free on the web, the full text
patent resources for example, does not come with the sophisticated
search capabilities or value-added information of the commercial
database providers. Using the free resources makes it much more
difficult to pinpoint concepts of interest and be confident
about the search results. A good search professional will know
which resources to use and how to use them in order to get the
best results for the budget available.
Does my search need to be conducted
online or by hand?
Online searching
of commercial databases and manual searching are two very different methods for
retrieving information and therefore will generally yield different results for
the same search topic. Much of the traditional type of searching through patent
classifications that was conducted by hand is becoming replaced with
computer-assisted searching in some way using classifications or keywords. A
traditional hand search of paper documents
can therefore be achieved via a computer terminal, often with more flexibility.
Commercial databases generally afford more
precision, but require special expertise and know-how to search effectively.
Normally,
a search will have some kind of budget restriction, which means that some
decisions will have to be made on the extent of searching and the type of
search approach. Due to the high level of ‘value-added’ information provided in
databases for subjects such as chemistry, pharmaceuticals, polymers,
biotechnology, chemical structures and biosequences, etc., more comprehensive
results are generally found using online searching methods.
Mechanical
and electrical technologies are often more effectively searched via manual
methods, generally because of the drawings that need to be viewed.
The more important types of searches may require a combined approach of online and
manual searching.
Our corporation already has a top-notch
searching department in-house. What are you able to do for us
that we can’t already do ourselves?
We’re here to help you smooth out the ‘Ups and Downs’
of patent searching. No matter how much you plan in advance,
it isn’t always possible to control the amount of work
you have at any one time. If the department has an unexpected
heavy workload, staffing difficulties or a sudden urgent project,
TPR is ready to assist. That’s why TPR has become known
as ‘The Patent Searcher’s Search Firm’ –
because online searching professionals who deal with patent
information every day know that TPR searchers think the same
way they do and have the same depth of understanding and experience.
We are partners with your in-house search team.
As part of a large R&D corporation,
our searching staff cover most of our ongoing search requirements.
What if we need extra help on an occasional basis?
TPR works in a completely flexible manner to provide you with
exactly the right amount of help that you need, when you need
it the most. Contacting us ahead of time to set the groundwork
for establishing a relationship is encouraged – even if
you don’t need to use our services right away, the chances
are that you may need to in the future.
Our company has special subscriptions
to databases that allow us to use the value-added indexing.
Does TPR have the high-level ability needed to utilize the indexing
to its fullest potential?
Our online search experts have been working with corporations
for years and have an in-depth knowledge of the coding/indexing
systems available, e.g. through Derwent World Patents Index,
Chemical Abstracts and Registry, IFI-Claims, and structure and
biosequence databases. Our searchers recognize the power of
such systems and will choose to utilize them whenever access
to them is available.
Why should I send my search request
to California when the U.S. Patent Office is located in Virginia?
Rest assured that if you need a hand search conducted at the
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, we have people on the ground
in Virginia whose daily business is to visit the USPTO to use
the searching facilities there. However, the USPTO is just one
of the resources that we use. Our central location in California
puts us in a convenient time zone to communicate with our clients
all over Europe, the U.S., and the rest of the world.
Is TPR set up to search on a worldwide
basis if I need it or in countries that are not generally considered
‘main-stream’?
One of our greatest strengths is being able to coordinate searches
concurrently at different locations around the world. This is
particularly valuable for urgent, high-profile validity cases
where it is critical to look to alternative sources of prior-art
which have not previously been considered.
We’ve tried searching everywhere
ourselves and found nothing that will help our case, what else
can you do to help us?
If you can tell us where you have already looked, we can formulate
a plan and make suggestions for alternative search approaches.
We have built the know-how and expertise over a number of years
and can tap into numerous sources of further material to uncover
additional references that may not have previously been considered.
Is TPR able to locate sources
of ‘gray literature’ which may not have been published
via commercial sources?
We specialize in searching ‘gray literature’, and
have had good success in finding invalidating prior-art through
such avenues of research. We would be happy to discuss with
you, on a case-by-case basis, what types of gray literature
may be considered fruitful for your particular type of search.
We need to get hold of some information
from a third party but want to remain anonymous. Can TPR act
as a go-between without revealing our name?
We can arrange to make discreet inquiries on your behalf regarding
products, copies of literature or other information you may
wish to obtain.
How do I initiate a search request
and what type of information do I need to supply?
You can contact us by phone, fax or email. Providing TPR with
some background information regarding your technology of interest
and objectives (state-of-the-art, freedom-to-operate, etc.)
will allow us to recommend the type of approach most appropriate
for the search.
Once you have contacted us, we will review the
information you have provided and let you know of any areas where we may need
further clarification. We can then put forward some recommendations and price
estimates according to different search options and budgets, if required.
What about confidentiality?
Due to the nature of our work, we consider all information as
confidential, whether or not it is identified as such. Confidentiality
is strictly maintained under all conditions and we do not even
disclose the names of our clients, though our list of regular
clients would be a heavy endorsement of the services we provide.
If clients prefer to have a signed confidentiality agreement,
we will be happy to put one in place – either our own
standard confidentiality agreement, or one using the client’s
own legal terminology, if preferred.
How can I know in advance what
the search will cost?
Once we have an idea of the scope of the search, we can provide
a cost estimate. The cost estimate will include the cost of
TPR services and commercial online database charges (if applicable)
and normally excludes the cost of obtaining full copies of documents
and any delivery charges that may be incurred. Manual search
estimates are generally more accurate in nature because they
are based on the number of documents that need to be reviewed
for particular U.S. or International Patent Classifications.
Online search estimates are made based on our experience with
similar types of searches, but are more likely to fluctuate
depending on the numbers of answers being retrieved. Once we
start the search, if we feel that the estimate may need to be
revised, we will contact you immediately. The scope of the search
can also be narrowed if budget considerations are an issue.
I need my search urgently
– how long does it normally take to complete a search?
The amount of time needed to complete a search varies widely
depending on the complexity of the question and the amount of
analysis required. A validity or infringement type search, for
example, could normally be expected to take between 2 to 4 weeks
or less from receipt of a request. By comparison, a straightforward
author search or legal status search can often be turned around
in 24 hours, depending on the scheduled work we already have
in hand. We work with clients to accommodate urgent requests
that may be needed. We take clients’ deadlines very seriously
and will always give a realistic estimate for the date of completion
for a search.
Once I give
TPR a search request, how will I know what is happening with
it in case my client asks?
Provided that the search is not giving an unexpected result
(e.g. too many answers, too few answers) then the search report
will be delivered according to our original time estimate. If
during the course of the search some further questions arise,
the search requester will be consulted before proceeding further
and will be provided with different options for ways to continue
with the search. If necessary, search estimates and delivery
dates may be revised at that time. Our policy is always to consult
closely with the requester to make sure that the results are
in line with what the client is expecting.
How will the results be presented
and sent to me?
The results of every search conducted by TPR are written up
as a report that clearly states how the search has been undertaken
and the results that have been obtained. Full copies of patents,
if required, can be provided as hard copy or electronically.
I like my searches to be conducted
in a certain way. How can I avoid having to re-state my preferences
each time I ask for a search to be performed?
Rather than view our relationship with a client on a search-by-search
basis, we like to look at the overall service that we provide
to each client and cater to the unique needs profile of that
client. We build an individual rapport with each of our contacts
within client companies to assess their needs and make sure
that our services are in line with their expectations. Any client
feedback is greatly encouraged to ensure ongoing client satisfaction.
Can I get full copies of documents
found in the search?
Different types of searches require different levels of documentation
to be provided with the report of the search. For a typical
state-of-the-art search conducted online, for example, online
abstracts may be sufficient to provide an initial view of the
technological landscape. Full copies of patent documents on CD can
optionally be provided at a competitive price, if required.
For other searches requiring more detailed analysis, e.g. validity
or freedom-to-operate searches, the searcher will need to review
the full-text documents in order to select those of potential
interest.
Availability of copies of non-patent literature references varies
widely, depending on the source. Whenever required, we endeavor
to provide copies of non-patent literature along with the search
results, or can use document specialists worldwide to locate
hard-to-find references.
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