Getting Started with PATSTAT Register

How can researchers effectively utilize the PATSTAT Register database for patent-related research?

The PATSTAT Register is a rich resource that specifically focuses on bibliographic, procedural, and legal status data of patent applications at the European Patent Office. Understanding how to navigate this database is crucial for researchers aiming to analyze patent-related metrics such as examination durations, licensing details, and patent transfers, contributing to the broader understanding of innovation and intellectual property management. Effective utilization of this database can help in generating insights into patenting behavior, which is essential for policy-making and economic research.

We introduced the PATSTAT Register database, focusing on the creation of eight MySQL queries that demonstrate key functionalities of the data for research purposes. The examples are derived from a sample of 4,375 patent applications filed at the European Patent Office from 2000 to 2010 in the field of wind motors, aiming to cover areas such as application procedures, licensing, patent transfers, and procedural steps in the patenting process.

The introduction of eight structured queries allows researchers to efficiently access and analyze various facets of the PATSTAT Register. Notably, Query 1 illustrates a method for counting backward citations in patent applications, revealing valuable metrics for understanding innovation behaviors. Furthermore, Query 6 shows that legal events, particularly oppositions, are occurring among the applications sampled, indicating the dynamics of patent validity and its implications for market strategies.

• 4,375 patent applications from the PATSTAT Register and core database (2000–2010, field of wind motors)
• MySQL queries derived from the 2016 Autumn edition of the PATSTAT Register and the 2015 Spring edition of the PATSTAT core database

• Researchers are familiar with MySQL and have access to the PATSTAT database.
• The data provide comprehensive coverage of bibliographic, procedural, and legal statuses necessary for research purposes.
• Certain limitations exist regarding the availability of detailed licensing information and the accuracy of applicant changes.