به دنبال بینش - طرح های کنترل کیفیت برای بهبود جستجوهای ثبت اختراع

Measuring the quality of patent searches is inherently difficult and poses many challenges. Plausible reasons for this may include the length of the patenting process, and the true value and quality of a search can often not be realised for many years after a search has been conducted. Opportunities are there, however, for searchers to take the initiative by seeking to enhance the quality and comprehensiveness of the searches they perform through different approaches that may be integrated into their day-to-day workflow. While the primary aim of these approaches is to ultimately improve the quality of searches, the insights derived serve to benefit all searchers in the work they do, regardless of their experience, and build a collective team spirit.

Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research (NIBR) is a global pharmaceutical research organization. The NIBR Patents department is a group of approximately 60 attorneys and scientists that support and guide the global Novartis research and discovery teams in terms of intellectual property (IP) protection and strategies. NIBR Patents also includes the Search and Analytics (S&A) team which consists of 10 patent analysts who conduct IP searches to support both the attorneys and scientists in evaluating freedom to operate, patentability and novelty. This article details some of the initiatives that have recently been implemented within the S&A team with the primary aim of enhancing the quality and comprehensiveness of the searches that are carried out. The article also highlights some of the key insights that have stemmed from these initiatives. When searching for patent information quality is paramount. Whether it is the quality of the raw data in the applications received by patent issuing authorities [1] and [2], the accuracy and comprehensiveness of value-added databases [3], [4] and [5], or the quality of patent searches themselves, unreliable information can have detrimental effects on the final product delivered to the client. Indeed, the quality of patent searches may be dependent on many possible factors including, but not limited to, those listed in Fig. 1:Of the many different aspects of a search that may affect its quality [4] and [6], there are some that searchers may be in no position to control nor readily able to influence, such as fixed deadlines, budget constraints, and available resources and tools. The perception of what constitutes quality may vary markedly from searcher to searcher, as well as from client to client. As searchers, though, we are in a position to step back and take a look at ourselves and what we do. The definition of a ‘quality search’ can be subjective, but the concept may often be seen as reflecting not just the quality of the search execution itself but also the value the search imparts to the client, in terms of the report and the analysis [6]. Within the S&A team what could we do to proactively enhance the quality and comprehensiveness of our searches while at the same time look to derive insights that we could all benefit from? When conducting searches, the absence of constraints imposed by defined-processes can often be an advantage, and by continually investigating different ways of addressing the challenges posed by a request we can expand the scope of tools at our disposal [7]. The insights we derive from our quality control initiatives may highlight tools and techniques of potential value, not previously widely-used perhaps, that we can consider for use in future searches.

As searchers we strive to deliver as high quality a product as possible for our clients. We have the potential to not only enhance the value of the searches we provide but also to identify techniques and approaches that may be of use when conducting future requests. By virtue of the initiatives implemented, and the insights we have derived, our searches continue to evolve in terms of quality and comprehensiveness. Individually, as searchers, the initiatives have provided us with opportunities to build our own knowledge, while at the same time enabling us to share our expertise and points of learning with our peers. The quality control initiatives have highlighted several techniques and approaches, relevant to different aspects of the search process, which we are now able to call upon as and when appropriate. Not every search request necessitates the use of each of the techniques highlighted above but, through discussions with the client and with the experience of the searcher, an assessment can be made about what approach may be most appropriate. Quality control initiatives now form part of our day-to-day workflow and will continue to evolve as the insights continue to benefit us as searchers, our immediate clients, and ultimately the business as a whole.