IPRIMA - Intellectual Property Specialists

Intellectual Property may effectively be searched through a number of databases maintained by various Patent Offices. Among the more useful for NZ businesses are the NZ, Australian, US, and European databases. Internet links to the more useful IP databases are maintained on our website.

A number of commercial organisations maintain databases of a high quality. Some of these organisations provide search options other than performing your own search. However, the usefulness of your results will depend on how well you instructed your searcher.

When searching yourself, it pays to be aware of different terminology and spellings used in different countries – most notably between the US and commonwealth countries. Preparing keywords and a search strategy in advance is advisable. Using feedback from found material can be used to update your strategy – that last patent abstract might have identified other useful keywords.

Internet search engines also serve their purpose, though often find too much irrelevant material. They do represent an effective way of identifying material that might occur in current commercial databases, and of potential relevance.
Some organisations maintain industry or sector oriented websites with searching facilities within. These are useful, particularly maintained in country to which you are considering exporting.

Directories such as run by Telecom in NZ, business directories such as run by Wises or UBD in NZ, and equivalent overseas directories are all useful for searching, particularly for trade marks.

Finally, don’t forget popping down to your local library. Even if they do not have a comprehensive range of books in your area of interest, they may have access to online searching facilities which you don’t.