ABSTRACT
Patent information is a unique mix of technical and legal documentation. The major consumers for patent information during the 1990s were limited to research-based industries, supplemented by a moderate usage in financial broking and company strategy management. Many of the developments in the patent information field are initiated by either the data producers or within the private sector. Any individual or corporate body whether resident in the United Kingdom (UK) is entitled to apply for a patent which will have effect within the UK. The reverse is equally true – other countries allow UK nationals or industrial organizations to obtain patents in their countries. The Patent Office is required by statute to carry out searches on applications received for UK patents, as part of the granting process. The Patent Office sought to raise the profile of patent information by publishing the 'Patent information monograph series', designed to illustrate the breadth of technical knowledge contained in the documents.
