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Keyword searching enables an individual to search for and find patents by matching
one's own search terms to the actual words contained in patents. The searcher
may also specify the "fields," or parts of patents, in which you'd
like the keywords to be found.
Advantages: Keyword searches are quick and don't require highly specialized
search skills. Keyword searches are also most appropriate for very recently
developed technology for which the USPTO has not yet developed
classifications.
Disadvantages: Keyword searches depend solely upon the searcher's ability
to anticipate and guess at how an attorney or inventor may have described an
invention. Additionally, the oldest patents in this database date from 1976
only. Older patents must be searched by classification or patent number.
Although you will perform keyword searches on the USPTO
website and/or product name searches on the TESS
(Trademark Electronic Search System) website, you may want first
to review the search-specific information below in order to conduct
the best search for your research needs.
(These links require Macromedia's Flash
player.)
You can search by:
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