|
2.6
|
Patent family system
| |
|
|
The EPO keeps a patent family system based on application data and priority data of the patent documents stored in databases of the EPO. When viewing patent documents on screen, normally only one representative document of a patent family is displayed, but links to the other members of its patent family are provided.
|
|
|
The practice of not including all members of a patent family in the manual search files (as accepted by WIPO) is followed extensively. With respect to patent documents published after 1968 this is done using the patent family system; for older documents this is done mainly in the context of reclassification projects, with the possibility of updating the family information in the databases accordingly. During manual searches, the examiners can make use of the patent family system to obtain the identification of other family members, which may then be consulted via the image databases or, if necessary, in the numerical files.
|
|
|
As regards new acquisitions, the selection of the family member to be classified and incorporated in the manual search files is as follows:
|
|
|
(i)
|
all published European applications and international applications designating the EPO are incorporated in the manual search files;
| |
|
|
(ii)
|
the family member which is received first at the appropriate directorate of Principal Directorate Tools, or the one of which the bibliographic data are first available at that department for inclusion in the computer file (when this is not an application as in (i) above), is incorporated in the manual search files;
| |
|
|
(iii)
|
whenever a choice is available because of substantially simultaneous arrival, preference is given to documents published in the English, French or German language;
| |
|
|
(iv)
|
whenever the first family member included in the manual search files is not in an official language, and a further family member belonging to the minimum documentation is received, that document is also included in the manual search files (in particular the first one of these if more than one is received);
| |
|
|
(v)
|
by way of exception, e.g. in complex technical fields, an additional family member may also be included in the manual search files when the information therein is more complete or presented in a more convenient way (e.g. US patents).
| |
|
|
The selection of the documents incorporated in the manual search files under the family system as operated in the past, followed slightly different rules in some respects; for these documents the former situation is maintained in principle; nevertheless, whenever there is a reason to review the contents of a field, e.g. in case of reclassification, the opportunity is used to adapt the contents of the manual files to the above situation to the extent that this is practicable.
|
|
|
CHAPTER IX SEARCH DOCUMENTATION
2.5 Arrangements for manual search
