From 1 December anyone looking for existing inventions and patent rights will only be able to find them at Espacenet, the patent databank of the European Patent Office (EPO). The Dutch Intellectual Property Office (IE Bureau) is hereby putting an end to its patent databank OIO (Octrooi-Informatie Online or Patent Information Online). It no longer wants to invest in its elderly infrastructure. Espacenet is supposed to offer a valid search alternative for the inventor, entrepreneur or student who wants to consult patent documentation online.
To be able to improve and expand the functionality of the Espacenet the EPO co-operates on a continual basis with the national patent offices. The advantages of Espacenet over OIO are, according to the IE Bureau are the advanced technology, higher search speed, up-to-date information, bibliographic data from 78 countries and documents sometimes dating back to the end of the nineteenth century. In addition, no password is required.
More information: www.espacenet.com (English), or http://nl.espacenet.com (Dutch).
