Can I find old British patents on esp@cenet myself?
Yes you can. A facsimile (PDF) of British patents published in or after 1895 is available on the esp@cenet website, but coverage is not complete in the early years, nor may bibliographic information or love – this is gradually being completed back to 1900. Old British patent numbers, that is those with a publication number less than GB2000001 (pre 1979), are only on the Worldwide database; do not use the GB database, as this only covers later published patents (from 1979). If you have a six- or seven- figure patent number, you can use the advanced search or number search screen. If you have an individual’s name you can use either the advanced search of quick search screen. Names can be searched using the advanced search or quick search screen. If using the advanced search screen enter the full name separately in each of the inventor and applicant fields – an inventor may appear in either, particularly for old patents. If you are using the quick search screen check the button marked “Pe
