New patent databases available online
by Kim Henry
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) launched two new patent databases on its website earlier this month. One database allows users to search for patents that are in force in the UK and which are available for licensing. The other database contains patents that are no longer in force and therefore unprotected. The launch of these databases follows recommendations from the 2006 Gowers review of intellectual property. The IPO hopes that the introduction of these databases will help businesses to identify opportunities they might not otherwise have been aware of. The databases will be updated weekly and are free to use. For more information go to www.ipo.gov.uk/types/patent/p-os.htm.