Electronic Sources for Intellectual Property Research

LexisNexis and Westlaw offer multiple search interfaces that can help expedite IP law research. In addition, both services offer clipping services (LexisNexis Alerts & Westlaw Alerts) to help the researcher stay abreast of developments in the field.

BNA provides access to a number of Intellectual Property Law publications:

The CCH Intellectual Property/Information Technology library provides access to the Copyright Law Reporter and the Trademark Law Reporter as well as other selected databases.

Other databases may be useful when researching interdisciplinary aspects of IP law. These databases cover topics such as business, economics, sociology, and much more.

Internet sources include search engines for known items when the location is unknown, browsable IP directories and metasites, current awareness sources to learn about hot topics, blogs, and many specialized sites containing documents, links, and mailing lists.

LexisNexis

LexisNexis provides different interfaces that you can use to conduct IP research. Each offers form based research so that you do not have to find the databases among the thousands of sources that LexisNexis provides.

  • Guided Search Forms: One of the tabs under Search, these forms are aimed at the intermediate to expert user. The forms allow you to find an appropriate database by topic and to construct a query in a form. Select Area of Law, then use the drop down menu to find specific databases to search. Copyright, Patent Law, and Trademark are distinct categories, each with one or more databases.
  • The Research Tasks tab provides links to topical pages for common research tasks including a Patent page and a Trademark & Copyright page. Each research tasks page provides multiple search forms for registered forms of IP (patent applications, copyrights, etc.), news, USPTO proceedings, and secondary sources.

LexisNexis Alerts: Once you have conducted a search, you may save that search to be repeated at regular intervals. The results may be delivered to you in a variety of formats and a variety of delivery methods. Click on "Save as Eclipse" from your search result and follow the on screen prompts.

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Westlaw

MyWestlaw is a customizable interface for particular topics or jurisdictions.
  • To customizing MyWestlaw, click on the link at the top of any Westlaw page. Select Intellectual Property under the topical section then decide which page you want as your default Westlaw page.

Westlaw Alerts clipping service: Once you have conducted a search, you may save that search to be repeated at regular intervals. The results may be delivered to you in a variety of formats and a variety of delivery methods.

  • Click on "WestClip" from your search result and follow the on screen prompts.
  • You may also create a Westclip from any page, regardless of whether you have run a query. Just click on the drop down menu next to "Keysearch" and select WestClip.

Also available is Westlaw's Agency Tracker by which you can monitor regulatory actions or agency decisions from the Patent & Trademark Office (listed under the Department of Commerce).

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Other databases

Intellectual property research may require more than legal resources, especially if you are doing anything regarding IP theory or if you are researching business aspects of IP.

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Internet Sources

Search engines can be very helpful in locating obscure documents. Please bear in mind that the Bluebook has strict requirements for citing electronic sources, but the Internet can provide information that is necessary for finding a source in print format.

Intellectual Property directories and metasites allow you to browse through collections of links/documents that have been arranged by subject.

Current awareness resources on the Internet have proliferated in recent years. These resources are very helpful for locating up to the minute information on technology, IP litigation, etc. They can provide inspiration (and paper topics) on emerging intellectual property law issues.

Specialized sites can also provide links to a variety of information. Many of these sites collect primary law documents that may not be available via other electronic sources. Some notable examples:

Blogs edited by law professors, practitioners and other experts on IP law can be a very useful resource. A selection of blogs is provided here.

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Page maintained by: Raquel Ortiz
Last Updated: April 2008