The Business and Patent Information Service incorporates one of the few full-time patent (Patlib) libraries in the country and has been delivering services to business, industry and the general public for over 20 years.
We are committed to the provision of Patent Information and the promotion of Intellectual Property to businesses and the local community. Click here for some of the resources available
Why use Patent Information?
- Patents cover all fields of technology - from burglar alarms to genetic engineering, from footwear to solar power.
- If you are inventor you need to find out what has already been patented before applying for a patent – your invention may not be on the market but if it has been described in a patent document it is no longer new and therefore no longer patentable.
- Patents documents often provide unique information up to 90% of the information disclosed in patents is not disclosed anywhere else.
- Information disclosed in patents is detailed - full disclosure of an inventive step is required before a patent can be granted.
- Patents information is published fast – most countries and authorities publish patent applications 18 months from first filing. This is often the first indication of a new product being developed.
- Monitoring patents can be an effective means of keeping an eye on competitors activities and the current state of the art.
- Using patents information helps to avoid duplicating existing R & D work – the EC estimates that each year £20 billion is wasted by companies repeating research which has already been done and disclosed in patents.
- Much information disclosed in patents can freely and legitimately be copied - all patents ultimately lapse or expire. Many are never protected outside the country of original filing.
- Patent information highlights and foretells technological trends - today’s patent applications are frequently tomorrow’s products.
- Patents trace the historical development of a technology from the first published documents in the seventeenth century to those published last week. Discovering Yorkshire: Inventors and Inventions
- Patents information is accessible – various databases offer free access to documents and searching – for more information on how to get the best out of these databases please contact us.
Services Offered
Free Information
Visitors to Business and Patent Information Services have access to much free information – numerous CD-ROMs and internet databases to assist searching and Patent Office literature explaining the patenting process.
Patent Clinics
Business and Patent Information Services runs monthly patent clinics in association with the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA). Customers have the opportunity of a free confidential half hour consultation with a registered patent agent. Appointments must be booked in advance.
Leeds Inventors Group
A series of meetings to help inventors find out more about the support and guidance which is available to them, pick up tips from the experts and meet other inventors in an informal environment - click the link at the bottom of this page to find out more.
The group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month (no meeting in August) 6pm – 7.45 pm in the 3rd floor meeting room of the Central Library
Patent & Trademark Searching
A lot of patent and trademark information is now available on the internet but using it is often not as easy as it appears. We can help you get the best out of the free patents and trademark databases available on the net – our experienced staff can guide you through them and also offer access to other subscription databases such as Derwent World Patents Index and Inpadoc for more comprehensive searches.
Charged Searches
Subject searches - conducted on international databases these can give a clear picture of existing patents in your area of interest.
Name searches - Database and CD-ROM resources rapidly indicate the patent rights of a specific company or inventor.
Current Awareness - regular updates to keep you informed of new patent applications which may affect your own activities. By supplying you with abstracts of recently published patent applications you can keep track of new developments and monitor competitor activity, potential markets and trends. Subject and / or name searches can be carried out on the patents of up to fourteen countries or authorities.
Legal status searches – indicate the current status and country coverage of a particular patent.
Trademark Searches – We can provide trademark searches for most countries – if you already have a trademark registered we can keep you informed of new marks being advertised which you may wish to challenge.
Document Delivery
Most requests for copies of patents from our international collection of 24 million documents can be satisfied on the day of ordering. Copies can be sent by post, fax or e-mail.
Courier delivery can be arranged for most corners of the world at cost.
Details of patent collection
See download
Charges
See download
Address
Business and Patent Information Services
2nd Floor Suite
Central Library
Calverley Street
Leeds LS1 3AB
NB Please ask at the Enquiry Desk on the ground floor for the Patents and Trademarks Service, a member of staff will come and collect you.
By phone, fax or email contact
Stef Stephenson, Ged Doonan.
Telephone: +44(0)113 247 8266
Fax: +44(0)113 247 8268
email: piu@leeds.gov.uk
Opening Times
Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday - 9.00 - 5.00pm
Thursday, Friday - 9.00 - 5.00pm
Saturday 10.00 - 1.00pm