To research who owns a patent, follow these steps:
- Identify the Patent Number: Start with the patent number if you have it. This is the most direct way to look up ownership. If you don’t have the number, you’ll need to search for the patent using other details like the invention title, inventor name, or keywords related to the invention.
- Use the USPTO Patent Public Search Tool:
- Go to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website at uspto.gov and navigate to the "Patent Public Search" tool.
- Enter the patent number in the search bar (e.g., "US1234567" or just "1234567" for U.S. patents).
- Once you find the patent, look at the "Assignee" field on the patent document. This lists the entity (individual, company, or organization) to whom the patent was assigned at the time it was granted.
- Check Patent Assignment Records:
- Ownership can change after a patent is issued, and the original patent document might not reflect the current owner. To find the most up-to-date ownership:
- Visit the USPTO’s "Patent Assignment Search" database (assignment.uspto.gov).
- Search by patent number, assignee name, or other criteria.
- Review the assignment records, which detail transfers of ownership (e.g., from the inventor to a company or between companies). These records include dates and the names of the assignor (previous owner) and assignee (new owner).
- Note that recording assignments with the USPTO is optional, so not all transfers may be listed.
- Explore Additional Databases:
- Google Patents (patents.google.com): Enter the patent number or keywords. It shows basic ownership info and sometimes links to assignment data.
- Espacenet (worldwide.espacenet.com): Useful for international patents. Search by number or keywords and check the "Applicant" or "Proprietor" field.
- Lens.org: Another free tool that aggregates patent data globally and may provide ownership details.
- Look for Reassignments or Changes:
- If the patent has been sold, licensed, or transferred, the assignment records will show a "chain of title." Follow this chain to the most recent assignee.
- Be aware that company names might change due to mergers or rebranding, so you may need to search variations of the name.
- Contact the USPTO (if needed):
- If online records are unclear or incomplete, you can contact the USPTO’s Assignment Recordation Branch at AssignmentCenter@uspto.gov or call 800-972-6382 for assistance.
- Consider Legal or Professional Help:
- For complex cases (e.g., unrecorded transfers or disputes), a patent attorney or professional searcher can dig deeper into public records or proprietary databases.
This process works best for U.S. patents. For patents in other countries, use the respective national patent office’s database (e.g., EPO for Europe, JPO for Japan) and follow a similar approach. Keep in mind that ownership info might not always be current if changes weren’t reported to the patent office.
