List of Figures
List of Tables
Series Editor's Foreword
Preface to Second Edition
Preface to Third Edition
Part I: Patent processes and documentation
1 Principles of patenting
Legal Processes
Defining a patent
The concept of priority
The historical examination process for patents
The development of deferred examination and early publication
A typical sequence in modern patent examination
Patents as Information Tools
Language of publication
Patents as accessible documents
Patent families.

Bibliographic Standards and the Form of a Patent Document
Special Document Types
Alternative forms of intellectual property (IP) rights
Patent amendments and corrections
Patent-related protection mechanisms
References
2 The European Patent system
EP Patent Documents - Centralised and Nationalised Procedures
Formal examination and search report
Unexamined publication
Grant publication
Post-grant publications
Post-grant translations and the London Agreement
Other post-grant events
European Classification.

Databases and Database-Specific Aspects
Relationships with the European Union
The effect of European Regulations and Directives
The Community Patent
References
3 The United States patent system
Historical Aspects
Recent Law Changes
US Patent Documents
Application procedure
Examination, early publication and grant
Post-grant activities
Databases and Database-Specific Aspects
The US Patent Classification
References
4 The Japanese patent system
History of Japanese Patents.

Japanese Patent Documentation and Recent Law Changes
Normal progress to grant
Japanese B1 publications
The importance of utility models
Databases and Database-Specific Aspects
The Japanese Patent Classification and Indexing Systems
References
5 The Patent Co-operation Treaty
Background to the PCT System
PCT Documentation
Databases Covering the PCT System
References
6 National patent systems of the G7 countries
Introduction
Canada
Historical aspects and current law
National patent documentation.

Databases and database-specific aspects
France
Historical aspects and current law
National patent documentation
Databases and database-specific aspects
Germany
Historical aspects and current law
National patent documentation
Databases and database-specific aspects
Italy
Historical aspects and current law
National patent documentation
Databases and database-specific aspects
United Kingdom
Historical aspects and current law
National patent documentation
Databases and database-specific aspects
References.

7 The BRIC nations, Asia and regional patent systems.