BACKGROUND

Every new application for a patent must be subjected to a process that includes a careful comparison of the invention with the collection of existing patents, both U.S. and foreign. For both examiners and the public, the collection serves as a source of technical knowledge and historical development without equal.

The EAST and WEST computer systems, used by examiners and the public, contain more than 80,000 patents issued from 1971 to date for which text is not available. So, even though the image of the patent is available, the patent cannot be located in a text search.

The following is a collection of articles, documentations, and related releases.

If You Come To The PTO, Bring Your Own Desk - article apprearing in Intellectual Property Today (pdf format)

Report to Congress - 19 page announcement to Congress of PTO's plans to destroy the public collection (pdf format)