Welcome to RWS Information Division – the IP search specialists

In this division we offer a range of search / retrieval services covering Intellectual Property (IP) as well as other technical literature (journals, text books, conference proceedings, trade literature etc). Additionally, our Information Division - in conjunction with Minesoft Ltd - publishes PatBase, the new cost-effective patent database designed by professional patent searchers.

We conduct searches through virtually any patent issuing body in the world.

Infringement Searches

For infringement searches, attention is drawn to specific claims which are of potential risk with regard to infringement. Claims which are no longer in force and / or disclosures which may indicate right-of-use (i.e. the invention being in the public domain) are also reported.

Validity Searches

For validity searches we appreciate that non-patent documents are also of equal importance and these can be included within our search if required. In such cases our reports detail the title of the article, an indication of whether the cases are marginal or relevant and comments as to what is disclosed. In order to keep our clients' costs to a minimum we do not provide copies / abstracts of every reference cited, but assess and supply only the most relevant.

Novelty Searches

In the case of novelty searches we offer both fixed-price searches and individually costed searches. For fixed-price searches we use classification and or keyword based techniques Individually costed novelty searches are more in-depth and may cover a broader range of classification headings than fixed-price searches.

State-of-the-art Searches

State-of-the-art searches in their simplest form are intended to bring forward a handful of cases representative of a particular technology. They can be used to identify whether particular features of a proposed technology are evident in the patent art. State-of-the-art searches require detailed instructions from clients in terms of what it is hoped the search will achieve.

Collection Searches

In general, collection searches are often used to obtain a history of a particular subject, which may be used to develop a specialist library, or to establish new areas of R & D. As such the instructions given for a search of this type can be quite broad, and the search may extend over a long period.

Assignee / Name Searches

These can either detail all cases published in a particular name or they can be restricted by a specific subject matter. As appropriate our searches can be extended to cover most of the major patenting countries, as well as EPO and WIPO (PCT) records. In addition to searching on standard names we also consider and search upon variations that may arise, particularly due to translation or transliteration.