By subject
Information on patent publications relating to a specific topic or subject area, i.e., what is already known and if it is protected (= is it state of the art?).
By name
Patents published by a specific company (applicant) or person (inventor).
By family
If the patent publication is known (patent number, file number), information about which other countries have applied for or granted property rights in this regard.
By current law
If the patent publication is known (patent number, file number), information on whether a patent has been granted and is still valid.
By citation
In the case of known patent publications, information about which other publications are cited therein or in which other publications this patent is cited.
By country
You limit the results of a search (e.g., a subject search) to specific countries.
By date
Patents from a specific time period or search restriction.
By number
Content of an application/patent by patent number or file number.
Below you will find a brief summary of the DPINFO information system’s research documentation; this is provided free of charge by the German Patent and Trademark Office.
File number formats in the patent and utility model register
International Patent Classification, IPC
The IPC has four input fields:
Type of proprietary right (not for patents registered in the GDR)
The type of proprietary right may be entered from a drop-down list, but only in conjunction with other search criteria.
The following selection fields:
Funding and licensing
The type of funding and licensing availability must be entered via a selection list. This selection is only permitted in conjunction with other search criteria.
Selection fields:
Type of patent, publication date
When specifying the publication date, select the patent type:
The date must be entered in the following format: