Thomson Reuters, a US-based provider of 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 (DWPISM). 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.
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. Nearly 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. 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.
