SOFTWARE PRIOR ART RESEARCH MADE EASIER: ON-LINE DATABASE ANNOUNCED

[David Farber <farber@central.cis.upenn.edu>]

From: Bernard.A.Galler@um.cc.umich.edu
Date: Wed, 30 Mar 94 15:17:14 EST
To: farber@central.cis.upenn.edu


                   SOFTWARE PRIOR ART RESEARCH MADE EASIER:
                           ON-LINE DATABASE ANNOUNCED


 The Software Patent Institute (SPI) announced today the launching of its
 on-line database of software prior art. The database provides a critical
 link to helping patent industry professionals resolve conflicts regarding
 what has really been invented, what is really new, and if an idea is
 deserving of a patent.  Jerry Goldberg, a senior official at the United
 States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), remarked that "Examiner (X)
 searched the SPI database for a specific multimedia feature he had been
 hunting for inconventional search areas and found the hits on the SPI
 database were more relevant than any of his prior results."  Goldberg said
 that the SPI database provides a unique source for reviewing prior art.


 The database currently contains over 10,000 records, with more being added
 daily, from sources such as IBM's Technical Disclosure Bulletin (TBD), Dr.
 Dobb's Journal articles and material from leading computer science
 reference works, manuals and technical discussions currently not available
 on-line.  It is the only source in the U.S. outside of IBM
 where the IBM TDB material is available on-line.


 According to University of Michigan Professor Bernard Galler, Chairman of SPI's
 executive committee, "SPI offers a unique and effective perspective on
 software patents and should be a significant aid in resolving controversies
 surrounding software-related patents. The database is a valuable resource
 for those seeking to use or develop patents
 on software-related inventions."


 Founded in 1992 as a nonprofit organization to assist the USPTO and
 others meet the complex challenges surrounding software-related patents,
 SPI provides technical support through education and training programs and
 offers access to software prior art information and retrieval resources.
 Founding members of the SPI include Apple Computer, Inc., Digital Equipment
 Corporation, IBM Corporation, the Industrial Technology Institute, Lotus
 Development Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, the University of
 Michigan and the Michigan Strategic Fund.


 For further information on the database and other SPI services, submission
 of database items, or membership, contact Roland Cole, Executive Director,
 at (313)769-4606, or at spi@iti.org.