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15.23.
It is to be noted that there is still a heavy reliance on paper documentation at the EPO. Separate "shoe boxes" are kept for storing documentation for different areas of technology. The shoe boxes contain copies of search reports produced by the EPO, patent applications and journal articles. The EPO also circulates about 1500 journals to its various search teams and places data relating to non-patent literature in the computer. The EPO also has library facilities containing relevant books and journals.
Other users
15.24.
the main example of other users of technical information are businessmen wishing to obtain patent protection for their inventions. Such businessmen or their advisers will in many cases wish to search the prior art before making a patent application. Whilst such other users may not need to have the same level of resources they need to have similar facilities if they wish to make an adequate search of the prior art.
Search for research purposes
15.25.
There is so much inventive activity that it would be unwise for anyone embarking on technical research not to seek the latest information on his particular area of interest. He should not spend effort on research which has already been disclosed or developed. It will be recalled that the fundamental justification for a patent system is that in exchange for his monopoly the applicant must disclose the invention. The disclosure of the invention must be sufficiently comprehensive to allow someone skilled in the art to carry it out.
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15.26.
Different users have different needs in this regard, and their technical information requirements will differ accordingly. Major electronics and pharmaceutical companies will usually have their own technology information departments with access to the specialised information of their field. Smaller concerns may maintain libraries, but may need to rely increasingly on on-line databases and the new disc technologies. In view of the nature and cost of this they may have to rely increasingly on the services provided by specialised technical information centres. Examples of the types of services provided but such centres are those provided in France by the National Institute for Intellectual Property (INPI) and in the United Kingdom by the United Kingdom Patent Office Search and Advisory Service. Further details are given in para. 15.29 below.
15.27.
Technical information may be used by businessmen to research the legal status of inventions, and for other commercial purposes, such as making periodical searches of competitors' applications and searching particular technologies to identify those who are active in the area. Technical information can also be used to identify potential suppliers and purchasers. It is widely considered that the failure of Swiss watch makers to keep abreast of developments in Japan in the 1970s cost them a considerable share of the market which after large efforts in research they are now recovering.
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