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Abstract

Efforts to view and analyze patents began soon after the first patents were filed in the novel system founded in the U.S. Constitution. In the succeeding 200 plus years, classification and indexing tools have evolved from paper to digital, with searching demanding ever-higher skills. Answering the need of patent researchers and analysts for advocacy, scholarship, and professional education, leading searchers founded the Patent Information Users Group, Inc., now the pre-eminent professional organization for patent searchers in the United States. It offers formal coursework for prospective patent searchers, colloquia, and conferences where novice searchers can master their craft. Searchers, who often work in isolation, benefit from the support network and collegiality of PIUG. Patent searching is both challenging and rewarding. It is vital for individuals seeking to secure rights to intellectual property and contributes to research in many fields: history, economics, finance, management, sociology, law, medicine, and government policy. It is a career path for academic and special librarians with knowledge of the sciences behind the inventions and is a core skill for those preparing for careers in the sciences and technology fields. Skills and applications for patent knowledge receive little treatment in college curriculum, leaving it to the individual to discover the range of tools, strategies, and practical uses of patents. This article describes the developments in patent searching technology and the work of PIUG’s founders and members that led to its creation, growth, and successes in professional education, advocacy, and outreach. Keywords: PIUG, patent searchers, professional education, librarians

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