Most countries have a patent system, and patents are usually taken out initially in their country of origin. Patenting is a costly business, and often only if an invention proves successful will the inventor choose to patent it in other countries. By disclosing results of research in patent form the inventor is assured that no one else can make money from his invention - even if another research group was working on the same invention, the inventor who files the patent application first has sole rights to exploit the invention. Most countries have a patent system, and patents are usually taken out initially in their country of origin. Patenting is a costly business, and often only if an invention proves successful will the inventor choose to patent it in other countries.
Patents therefore provide a wealth of information to researchers.
References to patents will often be found in the course of carrying out a literature search either by computer or using printed abstracts, but sometimes you may wish to search specifically for patents. If you wish to search specifically for patents the most convenient way to do this is by having an online search done through the Library. The database usually searched is the World Patents Index , or if a chemical subject Chemical Abstracts Online . There is some patent information available at the Central Library in St Peter's Square, Manchester, within the Technical Library. The Internet is another source from which patent information can be obtained, and this is free of charge to academic users.