Q: What is the coverage of the new First Level data within the file?
A: Derwent World Patents Index Member View (DWPIMV) provides the original source data for each patent family member where available. Coverage varies by country and may include additional bibliographic information, original titles, abstracts, and main claim which may be displayed in the DWPI database using the PATVIEW display option. In general:
- Original titles: Germany since 1968; EPO since 1978; US since 1975; PCT since 1978; Japan since 1975; Australia since 2004; and UK since 2004.
- Original abstracts: Germany since 2000; EPO since 1978 in English and 2000 in French or German; US since 1975; and PCT since 1978.
- First claim: Germany since 1968; EPO since 1991; US since 1993; and UK - database updates 198409 to 199751.
- Inventor full name and associated address, and original patent assignee and associated address: Germany since 1968; EPO since 1978; US since 1975; PCT since 1978; and Japan since 1977 (no addresses).
- Agent and associated address: Germany since 1968; EPO since 1978; US since 1975; and PCT since 1999.
At present, the first claim is NOT available for PCT applications. In addition, machine-assisted translations of the JP original abstract and first claim are also NOT available.
Q: Historically, Thomson Scientific included abstracts for many equivalent members of the patent family. Is this data still available?
A: Yes, this data is available at the Member Patent Level. However, in the case of GB-B, EP-B, and US-A documents, the equivalent abstract for certain time periods was actually the first or main claim and not a Thomson Scientific value-add abstract. For consistency, this data has been moved to the new claims field at the Member Patent Level and, therefore, no longer qualifies as an equivalent abstract.
Q: What additional Thomson Scientific value-add abstracts are available?
A: Approximately 750,000 additional abstracts are now available in a text searchable format for the first time. The time period covered is 1995 to 1999. These “Documentation Abstracts” were the longest form of value-add abstracts prepared at the time. In 1999, Thomson Scientific introduced the Extension Abstract which has been available since that time in the EX field on Questel Orbit.
Documentation Abstracts and Extension Abstracts are available to subscribers to the DWPX file only.
Q: Is it possible to search using the US national patent classification system?
A: Yes. Original (Initial) US national classes, as issued on the US document at the time of publication, are available for US documents since 1975. This data is available at the Member Patent Level. At present, Thomson Scientific is NOT updating the US national classes following any USPTO reclassification cycle. The introduction of this reclassification data is a planned future enhancement. When this data is introduced, the Current US classes will be available at both the Invention and Member Patent Levels.
Q: Is it possible to search using the ECLA and F-terms patent classification systems?
A: The introduction of this data is planned as future enhancements.
Q: How is Thomson Scientific implementing the IPC Reform within DWPI?
A: Thomson Scientific will be embracing all aspects of the IPC Reform within DWPI. At the Invention Level the current IPCs for the patent family will be provided.
Q: How can I search the IPC Reform codes?
A: New IPC code indexes are being introduced for Advanced and Core IPC codes; both new codes and codes assigned from version. 7 are searchable in the IC= index. The IC= index contains all IPCs irrespective of their status (e.g. Invention and Member Patent Levels, original and current, IPC Reform and IPC 1-7).
New codes are available for searching Advanced IPC8 codes: ICAI for Advanced Inventive and ICAN for Advanced Non-inventive. The index ICAA searches both Advanced codes simultaneously (IPC Advanced All).
The codes for searching Core IPC 8 codes are ICCI for Core Inventive and ICCN for Core Non-inventive. The index ICCA searches both Core codes simultaneously (IPC Core All).
The IPC code indexes are created from the Invention Level IPCs only.
Q: What about pre-Reform IPC codes?
A: IPC1-7 continues to be available. As the IPC Reform reclassification data has not yet been loaded into DWPI, the IPC1-7 codes will also be found as current IPCs at both the Invention and Member Patent Levels. These IPCs continue to be searchable and displayable using the IC field.
Q: Is IPC Reform reclassification data available within DWPI?
A: No, not yet. This reclassification data will be added to the file in the coming months. IPC Reform data on documents issued since January 1, 2006, is available within the file.
Q: I understand that the introduction of the IPC Reform requires current awareness searches to be adjusted. But do I have to do anything about queries pointing to IPC1-7 data?
A: Use this link to see the most up to date information on IPC Reform changes on Questel.Orbit, including incorporating IPC8 in your searches.
http://www.questel.orbit.com/en/news/ipc_v8.htm
Q: Can I search DWPI as I did before?
A: If you are only interested in the traditional view of DWPI, you can restrict searches within DWPI to the Invention Level only. The qualifiers for the Thomson Scientific value-add titles and abstracts include:
- /TI – DWPI Enhanced Title
- /AB – DWPI Enhanced Abstract (including Novelty)
- /TT – DWPI Title Terms
- /AW – Additional Words
- /NV – Novelty section of the DWPI Enhanced Abstract
DWPI/TF – Technology Focus section of the DWPI Enhanced Abstract
- /DO – DWPI Documentation Abstract
- /EX - DWPI Extension Abstract
In addition, all of the following fields remain searchable in DWPI, as before:
- Publication data
- Application data
- Priority data
- Applicant & inventor data
- DWPI value-add coding (Manual Codes, Class Codes, File Segments)
- Chemical indexing (Compound Numbers, Ring Index numbers, DWPI Registry numbers, DCR numbers, Key Words
- Polymer Indexing (Polymer Keywords, Plasdoc Multipunch, Plasdoc Key Serials)
