Patent Searching Made Easy: How to Do Patent Searches on the Internet and in the Library

Patent Searching Made Easy: How to Do Patent Searches on the Internet and in the Library List Price: USD $24.95 See Latest Price & Discount Author David Hitchcock Binding: Paperback Publication Date: 1999-02 ISBN 0873374762 Publisher:Nolo Editorial Reviews: Product Description Now inventors can get instant feedback on their ideas via the Internet. For the novice searcher, Nolo Press offers an entertaining book that helps with the process. "Patent Searching Made Easy" explains how to use an Internet browser to search U.S. patents, discusses how to classify an invention properly, and tells how to find all relevant patents issued since 1971. Customer Reviews: Review #1: Horribly Outdated 2009-05-29 (PLEASE NOTE: I have been advised that there is a newer up to date version. So I guess the lesson here is to make sure you buy it and not the older one.) Last week my girlfriend dug this book out of the trash and set it on top of the microwave. She thought it must have fallen into the trash by mistake. She could not imagine that I, of all people, would ever throw a book away. I practically worship books. But not this one. I told her I had thrown it away to prevent anyone else from wasting their time - at least on that copy. I strongly urge others to do the same if they have a copy. This book may have served a purpose 10 years ago (when most people had no idea how to use the internet and maybe you needed 120 pages to explain it to you) but now its worse than useless - its a complete waste of time. Unless Google is a complete mystery to you or you need some paper to get a fire going don't waste your money. You'll find everything you need to know on the subject at: [...] Will you be making a trip to a USPTO Deposit Library now that all their records can be viewed online in the comfort of your favorite chair? If not then the second half of the book is useless too. Please help me eradicate this book from the face of the Earth. Review #2: pleased in flushing 2008-10-25 I was very pleased on how fast shipment came & also the fact that it was a soft covered book & packaging was great!!! Review #3: Good overview, but not for professionals !! 2008-03-14 I read this book, it was pretty nice information. But the information serves nowhere near to the level of information required by a professional patent searcher or analyst. This book does not explain much about theoretical aspects of patent searching and analytics, citations, and types of patent searching and their importance. Overall, this is a good guide-book for a private inventor, but not for a patent professional!! Review #4: Good for beginner 2006-03-03 Step by step you will be introdused in to the labylinth of US patent schedule. Thies review is for 2nd ed. eBook. Review #5: Outstanding 2006-01-25 Mr. Hitchcock's book has made my life a lot easier. All the info you need is right there. I'm sure you could take the time to look some of it up, but there are a lot of techniques and tricks that I never would have thought of. I especially like the Searcher's Secrets that are highlighted throughout the book. Then there is the discussion of Usenet as a resource. Most people think that the World Wide Web (WWW) and the Internet are the same things, but that's only because browser programs make it easy to surf the Web. Hitchcock explains how to use the thousands of discussion groups on Usenet to answer specific questions. The thing I really like the most is the chapter on the European Patent Office (EPO). If my patent search at the US Patent Office turns up some foreign patents, I can check them out online. There is even a way to translate the text of foreign patents into English for FREE! That little trick has already saved me about 10 times the cost of the book in translation fees. Great job!