1 The PDG is a non-profit organisation of research-driven, blue-chip companies with major European R&D sites The main aim of the PDG is to promote the effective and efficient use of patent information The PDG was founded in Overview of Patent Documentation Group (PDG) and Benefits of Membership

2 International forum for exchanging knowledge and experience in all areas of patent information Cooperation with patent offices worldwide to improve access to high quality patent information Liaising with patent information vendors to help improve their products and services Joint work on patent information topics which are of interest to even only a few members Benefits of PDG Membership I

3 Members are actively collaborating in Working Groups, based on their fields of interest Working Groups generally hold annual meetings Web meetings and conference calls facilitate contributing to Working Groups Cooperation within PDG is based on the „PDG Guidelines on Antitrust“, in order to meet corporate compliance standards Benefits of PDG Membership II

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5 The PDG has actively supported: Extended coverage of INPADOC (Europe, Asia, Latin America etc.) Extended coverage of INPADOC Legal Status database (CN, JP, KR, etc.) The introduction of Machine Assisted Translations, esp. for Asian countries The improvement of quality of Thomson Reuters DWPI data WIPO standard for minimum information of national offices websites Some success stories of the PDG I

6 The PDG enjoys recognition by major international bodies, e.g. Involvement in IP5 patent information activities as a partner of BUSINESSEUROPE Official observer status at WIPO Annual Informal EPO-PDG Meeting of PDG delegates with members of senior EPO information management Annual Meeting of the PDG Board with the EPO President Some success stories of the PDG II

7 Global Dossier Project of IP5 offices Certification Project QPIP – Qualified Patent Information Professional Global Legal Status Data - IMPACT initiative aims at extending the coverage of Legal Status data Patent information aspects of the Unitary Patent Discussions at strategic level with patent information vendors on: - Future business models and road maps - Database content, coverage and currency - Quality and functionality PDG is currently working on several projects

8 Working Groups deal with all major patent information systems, e.g. Patbase, Orbit.com, STN, Thomson Innovation, inhouse system CIPA (ex IEPROS) The Analysis & Visualisation Working Group focuses on new tools and methods for evaluating and presenting large volumes of patent data Specific patent information concerns can be introduced to discussions at an international level Discussion of Offshoring / Outsourcing activities to support internal patent information services Improvement of Classification schemes such as CPC especially for engineering needs Internal marketing of patent information services Potential Benefits of PDG Membership

9 Please contact any PDG Board Member or the PDG Secretary General for further Corporate membership only (no individual members) Member organisations must be R&D-based with a major R&D site in Europe and have patent infomation activities Decisions on acceptance of application for PDG membership are made by the PDG Main Delegates Members are expected to participate actively in the work of the PDG Moderate annual fee for corporate membership - currently €1500 Further Information on PDG Membership