Google have launched Google Patent Search - as the name suggests, a search engine for patents.
On the main page, Google show some interesting patents - like the toothbrush and sunglasses, which randomly update and you can obviously search an impressive number of US patents (Google claim 7 million) for what you are looking for. All of the content is sourced from the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
But aside from the amusement value, what does this actually give you? The USPTO is already searchable, so apart from slapping the Google name and brand on top of the database - and perhaps providing some of Google’s algorithms to make the results better, how is this actually helpful?
Or am I missing something?
Yes - you rather are missing something.
Compare this search to this search .
Which is more readable?
Google is providing a far superior interface for the searching as well as allowing much simpler searches. They have borrowed their Book Search technology to neatly display the patents in an easy to read way. Something that can’t be said for the USPTO’s site.
If you don’t like it continue to use the old search - but I think you know it it better.
I have to say I agree with Sam on the whole.
However, I do wonder why Google is bothering for another reason - how many people are actually going to use it, and thus will they be able to make any money from it? Sure, it fits with their goal to ‘organise the world’s information’, but will it translate in time to revenue? A person searching for information about the patent for Lipstick is unlikely to respond to an ad on the SERP to by Maxfactor’s latest offering.