Thomson Reuters Expands Japanese Patent Coverage in Derwent World Patents Index

Addition of English-translated Japanese Utility Models Provides Most
Comprehensive Access to Proliferating Asian Patent Data

PHILADELPHIA, May 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Thomson Reuters, the world's leading
source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals, has
further increased coverage of the growing patent activity in the Asia Pacific
region with the addition of registered Japanese Utility Models in Derwent
World Patents Index(R) (DWPI(SM)). This is the latest addition to the DWPI
database, with Chinese Utility Model Registrations added in October 2007. The
inclusion of the Japanese Utility Models provides the best access to Asian
patents in English, and further enhances the value of DWPI for prior art and
patentability searches.
"More applications are filed in Japan than anywhere else in the world, so
it's critically important that organizations are aware of the breadth of
innovations protected in this country," said David Brown, Executive Vice
President, Corporate Markets for the Scientific business of Thomson Reuters.
"By offering this critical Japanese patent data, we are extending our
leadership position in providing the most comprehensive English-language
coverage of Asian patent data."
Utility models are similar to patents, but require a less stringent review
process and offer a shorter protection period. Japanese Utility Models, which
have a protection period of 10 years from the application date, tend to be
used to seek protection for devices that have a short lifecycle, or for
inventions that have a lower technological aspect when compared to a full
patent. Approximately 150-200 utility models are published each week by the
Japanese Patent Office (8,000 to 10,000 annually).
The English-translated Japanese Utility Models, beginning with records
published on January 10, 2008, are available in DWPI and Derwent World Patents
Index First View(SM). Unexamined applications and some granted Japanese
patents are available within 6-10 days of publication.
DWPI is the world's most comprehensive database of value-added patent
documents. It provides detailed, value-added titles and abstracts -- in
English -- for patent documents issued in over 30 languages. For more
information about DWPI, please visit
here.
The Scientific business of Thomson Reuters provides information and
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and know what's newly published in their subject; and businesses to optimize
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toward business and personal success.
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SOURCE Thomson Reuters

Kevin Bonsor, Marketing Communications Manager, Scientific, of Thomson
Reuters, +1-919-461-7428, kevin.bonsor@thomsonreuters.com