🚀 go-pugleaf

In <1992Nov15.004521.7711@cs.su.oz.au> amathur@thunder.EEAP.CWRU.Edu (Alok Mathur) writes:

>I am interested in finding the exact details and scope of a specific
>patent. 

You can get a copy of the patent by sending three dollars and the patent
number to the Patent Office, Washington DC.  No street address needed, 
no Zip code needed.  

>This is actually a patent on a computer algorithm, and I need
>to know how far I am restricted towards making use of it.

Be sure to keep in mind there is a difference between what the patent
discloses and what it claims.  It could disclose three ways of solving
a problem, and claim only one of them... for example.

>Could anyone suggest a quick way of obtaining the details on the
>patent ? 

First, order up a copy of the patent as described above.  There are 
private companies that will do it by fax, too.  But it costs more.
Or get it from microfiche at your local patent depository library
(see previous post.)

>Should I contact the patent owner, or is this information
>accessible from a government office through US Mail (US Patent Office?), 
>or any other source (electronically) ? 

The full text, but not the figures, is available from Lexis (call 
1-800-543-6862).  But it costs more that way and you don't get the 
figures.

>Is there a periodical which
>lists patents issued ?

Yes, the Official Gazette of patents, available by subscription from
the Patent Office (address above).

>[mod- I have recently posted the draft FAQ which has a discussion on
>searching. Additionally see a previous post on automatic searching.
>The FAQ will tell you how to obtain a copy of the patent.
>My apologies for not posting the FAQ on a more regular basis]