Patent Searching Made Easy: How to Do Patent Searching on the Internet and in the Library (2nd Ed)

Rating:
Summary: If you are reading this review you don't need this book
Review: If you have a decent command of computers, have performed searches on the internet before, are capable of following basic instructions, and are familiar with libraries, then don't bother buying this book. All of the information in the book is readily available from the PTO website and it's links. While the information is available elsewhere, this book does do a fine job of compiling it all in one source that is accessible to everyone (read lowest common denominator).

Rating:
Summary: If you are reading this review you don't need this book
Review: Many references that speak of Internet sites require updating, and Mr. Hitchcock and crew have done just that for this second edition. Inventors have various levels of expertise; some need more instructions than do others. This book puts all on a nearly- equal footing. It takes the mystery (and a lot of work) out of what once was a daunting and truly tedious task. Kudos to David and to Nolo Press -- and to the Internet and those agencies and companies [e.g., IBM] putting their data on-line for free access!

Rating:
Summary: An Excellent Reference Updated!
Review: Many references that speak of Internet sites require updating, and Mr. Hitchcock and crew have done just that for this second edition. Inventors have various levels of expertise; some need more instructions than do others. This book puts all on a nearly- equal footing. It takes the mystery (and a lot of work) out of what once was a daunting and truly tedious task. Kudos to David and to Nolo Press -- and to the Internet and those agencies and companies [e.g., IBM] putting their data on-line for free access!

Rating:
Summary: Completely outdated.
Review: The field of patent searching has changed greatly over the last few years -- mainly due to the fact that all searching is done electronically now. Any book on this topic more than a year or so old is necessarily going to be dated. This probably wasn't a bad book when it came out, but you cannot learn to patent search properly with this book now.

Rating:
Summary: Completely outdated.
Review: The field of patent searching has changed greatly over the last few years -- mainly due to the fact that all searching is done electronically now. Any book on this topic more than a year or so old is necessarily going to be dated. This probably wasn't a bad book when it came out, but you cannot learn to patent search properly with this book now.

Rating:
Summary: Need to be update
Review: The search strategy mentioned herein is quite helpful. But the internet databases might need to be updated, then the readers are able to follow the steps.