Obtaining Patent File Histories
United State Patent and Tradmark Office
US Patent file histories are available for public inspection once an application has been published, usually 18 months after filing.
Japan Patent Office (JPO)
Japanese file histories are available for public inspection once an application has been published. Usually, the first publication of an application takes place 18 months after the application date (or in case a priority or domestic priority is claimed, 18 months after the earliest priority date). The public can gain access to a file history either by doing a legal status search or by ordering a copy of the “file wrapper”.
JPO file histories are available electronically over the internet. The web pages to access this information are only in Japanese. Instructions are provided in the “JPO Naviation” link (below) on how to navigate these pages to obtain the file wrapper you need. One you have the files history, you may obtain “free” machine translations by pasting Japanese text from documents into Babelfish:
Alternately, copies of JPO “file wrappers” can be ordered from the Japan Patent Information Organization (Japio) via the EPO in Vienna (Email: asiainfo@epo.org).
Since March 2006, file histories and the text of communications from the JPO to applicants dating from July 2003 onwards have been available via the JPO’s free “Industrial Property Digital Library (IPDL)”. The IPDL is available at
European Patent Office (EPO)
Some useful information is available through the following link.
Thomson Reuters (patent file histories, many countries)
Thomson is a paid service but the fees are quite low and reasonable. Thomson can provide published and/or granted patent copies as well as file histories from many countries electronically.
You need to register through their webpage first. You can order file histories immediately at the time of registration.
