From: rishab@dxm.ernet.in
Date: Thu, 21 Apr 94 14:52:08 PDT
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Patent searches
Message-ID: <gate.J1R4kc1w165w@dxm.ernet.in>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


hfinney@shell.portal.com:
> A little while ago someone posted about a new company that would do patent
> searches via email requests.  For another week they are doing free searches
> as an introductory offer.  I did a search on blind-signature based cash
> systems, and these are the patents it found.  This might be useful for those
> considering implementing electronic cash.  Full text of patents are available
> for $4.95.  The kind of search I did for free will cost $149 after another
> week.  People are allowed 3 searches per day for free until then.

I seem to remember that the USPTO provides full texts of patents for $3...
Anyway, those who plan to perform many such services at $149 might consider
purchasing the 10-CDROM database for $5,000 (?)

Also, you can WWW to
wais://town.hall.org:210/patent 
for full WAIS searches in real time for keywords. I'm not sure whether 
Town Hall has old patents (possibly only for the current year); but is does
have many relating to electronic cash, cryptography, signatures and so on.

(Note: most of these are software patents, not applicable outside the USA. An
average of 80 software patents a week were issued in the first quarter of 1994.)

The home page (http://town.hall.org) connects to many other services, including
the SEC EDGAR documents.


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Rishab Aiyer Ghosh                            "What is civilisation
rishab@dxm.ernet.in                             but a ribonucleic
Voicemail +91 11 3760335; Vox/Fax/Data 6853410      hangover?"
H-34C Saket New Delhi 110017 INDIA
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