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csma
Last seen: 08/29/2023 - 23:07
Joined: 05/22/2022 - 13:33
Why is patent data starts from 1976?

 

Hello,

I am working with patent data currently.

I realized that the data (Data on granted patents) starts from 1976.

And I also noted that some previous research focuses on patents starting from 1976.

And I was wondering if there is any reason for researchers not to work with data prior to 1976.

Is there any data quality issue? or are data before 1976 not universal, meaning not every patent is reported?

Thank you

 

Sun, 05/22/2022 - 19:50
Russ
Last seen: 12/05/2024 - 10:08
Joined: 11/14/2017 - 22:15
Available patent office data

The US patent office makes xml data available for patents issued in1976 and later on https://bulkdata.uspto.gov/ The patentsview database is built from these files. I think only classification data on that page is available for almost all patents see "Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) Master Classification File (MCF) for U.S. Patent Grants (JUL 1790 - DEC 2022) (Monthly)"

They have images of earlier patents but no structured data associated with them.

I hope this helps,
Russ Allen