DPMApublications is a service provided by the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA). It allows the user to search all IPR (industrial property rights) publications of the DPMA online. DPMApublications is the official publication platform of the DPMA, used by the office to issue all publications as required by law within the scope of pending procedures regarding patents, utility models, trade marks and industrial designs. This platform provides the electronic online versions of the former Patentblatt (Patent Gazette), Markenblatt (Trade Mark Journal) and Geschmacksmusterblatt (Designs Gazette), whose publication on paper was abandoned at the end of 2003 (printed Trade Mark Journal published still up to the 26th publication week of 2004) as well as the publication of the patent documents and utility model documents. Two versions of these three electronic online journals are provided: The version in PDF format is displayed in the known layout of the former printed paper journal. In the searchable version it is possible to display the bibliographic data of the result list obtained from the search, and the images of trade marks and industrial designs of a publication.

Main results, benefits and impacts

The two main benefits are the advantages for the user by having internet access to all Intellectual Property Rights data of the DPMA and the saving of internal expenses of the DPMA.

Return on investment

Return on investment: Not applicable / Not available

Lessons learnt

The main learning point is the experience of conflating the different data types of all different Intellectual Property Rights to one data base and offer the result as one integrative online service including search functions.