Information solutions provider Thomson Scientific, part of Thomson Corporation, US, has broadened its coverage of China's patent activity with the addition of English-translated Chinese Utility Model Registrations in Derwent World Patents Index (DWPISM). Thomson Scientific is claimed to be the first patent information provider to offer weekly comprehensive coverage of all Chinese Utility Model Registrations in English. Utility models are similar to patents, but require a less stringent review process and offer a shorter protection period. Like conventional patents, utility models reveal important new technology advances and are a significant part of any prior art search.
According to Thomson Scientific's World IP Today Global Patent Activity Report, published in April 2007, patent activity in China grew by 470 percent from 1997 to 2006, outpacing all other countries in terms of growth.
The Chinese Utility Model Registrations, beginning with records published on October 3, 2007, are initially available in Derwent World Patents Index First View (DWPI First View), the companion file to DWPI. Records in DWPI First View include human translation of the author's title, abstract and first claim. Each record is then reviewed by one of Thomson Scientific's expert analysts before it is uploaded into DWPI, where Chinese Utility Registration records have the same benefits that are available for all DWPI patent records. The benefits include an alerting abstract and manual coding.
DWPI is a comprehensive database of value-added patent documents available on the Dialog, STN International and Questel•Orbit online services. Thomson Scientific's World IP Today Global Patent Activity Report is available for download at http://scientific.thomson.com/media/pdfs/Patent-Report-4.26.07.pdf.
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