Thomson Scientific Broadens Chinese Patent Coverage in Derwent World Patents Index

Thomson Scientific Broadens Chinese Patent Coverage in Derwent World Patents Index

November 07, 2007

New Patent Data Offers Comprehensive Coverage of
English-translated Chinese Utility Model Registrations


    PHILADELPHIA and LONDON, Nov. 7 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
Thomson Scientific, part of The Thomson Corporation (NYSE:
TOC; TSX: TOC) and leading provider of information
solutions to the worldwide research and business
communities, has broadened its coverage of China's growing
patent activity with the addition of English-translated
Chinese Utility Model Registrations in Derwent World
Patents Index(R) (DWPI(SM)). Thomson Scientific is the
first patent information provider to offer weekly
comprehensive coverage of all Chinese Utility Model
Registrations in English. Utility models are similar to
patents, but require a less stringent review process and
offer a shorter protection period. Like conventional
patents, utility models reveal important new technology
advances and are a significant part of any prior art
search.

    "As China's economy continues to grow rapidly and
shifts from manufacturing to one that is more
innovation-based, it is becoming a hotbed of patent
activity," said David Brown, Executive Vice President,
Thomson Scientific. "Thomson Scientific is pleased to
be able to offer this critical patent data through our
Derwent World Patents Index database, providing patent
researchers with the most comprehensive view of global
patent activity, including China."

    According to Thomson Scientific's World IP Today Global
Patent Activity Report, published in April 2007, patent
activity in China grew by 470 percent from 1997 to 2006,
outpacing all other countries in terms of growth. 

    The Chinese Utility Model Registrations, beginning with
records published on October 3, 2007, are initially
available in Derwent World Patents Index First View(SM)
(DWPI First View(SM)), the companion file to DWPI. Records
in DWPI First View include human translation of the
author's title, abstract and first claim. Each record is
then reviewed by one of Thomson Scientific's expert
analysts before it is uploaded into DWPI, where Chinese
Utility Registration records have the same benefits that
are available for all DWPI patent records, including an
alerting abstract and manual coding.

    DWPI is the world's most comprehensive database of
value-added patent documents, and is available on the
Dialog(R), STN International and Questel*Orbit online
services. For more information about DWPI, please visit
http://scientific.thomson.com/products/dwpi/ . 

    Thomson Scientific's World IP Today Global Patent
Activity Report is available for download at
http://scientific.thomson.com/media/pdfs/Patent-Report-4.26.07.pdf
.

    About The Thomson Corporation

    The Thomson Corporation ( http://www.thomson.com ) is a
global leader in providing essential electronic workflow
solutions to business and professional customers.  With
operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson
provides value-added information, software tools and
applications to professionals in the fields of law, tax,
accounting, financial services, scientific research and
healthcare.  The Corporation's common shares are listed on
the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX:
TOC). 

    Thomson Scientific is a business of The Thomson
Corporation.  Its information solutions assist
professionals at every stage of research and
development-from discovery to analysis to product
development and distribution. Thomson Scientific
information solutions can be found at
scientific.thomson.com.


    For more information, please contact:

     Kevin Bonsor 
     Thomson Scientific
     Tel:   [phone] 
     Email: [e-mail]