Table 1

Online sources of information on patenting

Name
Description
URL


US Patent and Trademark Office patents
Provides general information on preparing and filing a patent application and obtaining a patent in the US
http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm
[15]
European Patent Office guide to applicants
Provides general information on preparing and filing a patent application and obtaining a patent in Europe
http://www.european-patent-office.org/ap_gd/index.htm
[16]
Japan Patent Office: right obtainment procedures
Provides general information on preparing and filing a patent application and obtaining a patent in Japan
http://www.jpo.go.jp/tetuzuki_e/index.htm
[17]
World Intellectual Property Organization: filing PCT applications
Provides general information on preparing and filing an international (PCT) patent application
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/access/filing.htm
[18]
IPR Helpdesk
Provides information on issues related to worldwide patenting
http:/ / www.ipr-helpdesk.org/ controlador.jsp?cuerpo=cuerpo&secci on=principal&len=en
[19]

PCT, Patent Cooperation Treaty.

Latimer Genome Biology 2004 6:203   doi:10.1186/gb-2004-6-1-203