While certain subject matter disclosed in patent documents is covered by exclusive rights granted to patent holders, much of the information disclosed in patent documents is in the public domain and can be used freely to develop and bring new products and services to the market.

Ever wondered how you can determine whether a new invention might be in the public domain and free to use without permission from a patent holder? Or how inventions in the public domain can add value to your products and services and how you can successfully develop new product concepts around inventions in the public domain?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has developed two practical guides designed to help researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs to effectively identify and use this information in the public domain. The guides include easy-to-follow training modules, checklists, teaching examples and other useful tools and resources designed in particular with the challenges faced in developing and least developed countries in mind. The digital versions of the guides are available for download free-of-charge at: https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4501 and https://www.wipo.int/publications/en/details.jsp?id=4502.

The Guide on Identifying Inventions in the Public Domain aims to assist researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs in determining whether specific inventions are protected by enforceable patents or may be in the public domain, by teaching a three-stage process for searching and analyzing published patent documents using the tools of freedom to operate determination.

From July 27 to August 7, 2020, join us on here on Ask the Expert to interact with the lead expert who developed the Guide on Identifying Inventions in the Public Domain, Dr. Donna Perdue, Founder of Perdue IP Law, APC, San Diego, United States of America. A full biography can be downloaded below.

To access a webinar presentation by Dr. Perdue on the Guide, please go to: https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/details.jsp?meeting_id=57889. The presentation slides of the webinar can be downloaded below.

Post your questions here on freedom to operate (FTO) determination, FTO search strategies, claims reading, infringement analysis and other topics related to the Guide, and start interacting with the expert!