1. Introduction to the PDG
Dr. Thomas Lorenz, PDG President
Bettina de Jong, PDG Vice President
Presentation to Spanish Companies at
EPO Patent Information Conference 2016 – Madrid
10. November 2016

2. Agenda Introduction of PDG Organization and activities of PDG
Advantages and benefits of participating in the Group
Terms and conditions of membership
Question time
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

3. Who are the PDG? Founded in 1957
The objective is to facilitate and promote the efficient and effective use of patent information
Non profit organization
Registered in Switzerland
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

4. What is the PDG ? 38 corporate members
ABB
Lanxess
Agfa Graphics
L'Oreal
AkzoNobel
Lundbeck
ASML
Merck KGaA
AstraZeneca
MSD
BASF
Nestec
Bayer
Novartis
Beiersdorf
Pfizer
BMS
Philips
Boehringer Ingelheim
Procter & Gamble
BP International
Robert Bosch
Clariant International
Sanofi
DSM
Shell International
Elanco
SIEMENS
Evonik
Solvay
F. Hoffmann-La Roche
Syngenta
ThyssenKrupp
GlaxoSmithKline
Total Research
Henkel
Unilever
IFPEN
38 corporate members
From different industries Chemicals, Pharma, Electrical, Consumer Goods, Automotive, Oil and Gas, Cosmetics, Health Care, Agriculture…
4 PDG members among the top 10 EPO applicants
PDG cooperates with all stakeholders
Regular high-level meetings with EPO, WIPO, IP5 and individual patent offices
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

5. If Patent Information is made available by Patent Offices and Providers – What is the Problem ?
Quality issues in daily data supply
Today, we need global patent data including utility models
Language barriers have become a determining factor in using patent information
Increasing number of commercial patent information offerings
Well, as long as Patent Offices publish their patent information and commercial providers offer these with cost to the public, where is the problem?
Some basics explaining the framework in an industrial company will reveal the challenges. Today, our business is global. Only in a few cases we reduce our focus on specific regions, e.g. in FTO for a country. For the rest we need nearly all countries, and all data.
But we are struggling with the massive increase of documents. We have seen an increase of filings from 1,5 Mio in 2003 to now more than 2.7 mio patent applications filed every year!
With the growing number of countries entering the global IP scene the language becomes a determining factor for users to access patent information.
And, not to forget, standardization is a slow process: users are confronted with numerous data formats, numberings systems or codes.
We rely not only on raw data but also on added-value data as they offer often a more efficient access e.g. via abstracts instead of full texts.
But: the commercial providers are dependent on high quality raw data and the willingness of offices to provide data – in time and to marginal costs without considering them a source for making money.
Consequently, I believe that we need an intensified cooperation between offices and users as we have similar needs!
[3.30 min]
We need an intensified cooperation between patent offices, commercial providers and users as well as a better exchange among ourselves!
That is exactly what the PDG stands for
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6. Annual Members’ Conference
PDG Organization
Meetings
Annual Members’ Conference
PDG - Board
Secretary General
Groups
Working
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid
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7. PDG VISION future today
Patent information
is largely available and accessible
Comprehensive patent information is available and usable to support PDG members reaching their business goals
today
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8. PDG Mission
Striving to ensure that comprehensive patent information is made available and can be used by PDG member companies in an effective and efficient manner
Exchanging of knowledge and experience among PDG member companies
Debating, discussing and encouraging improvements and new developments in patent information services with third parties active in the field of patent information
Sharing searching practices among PDG-members to enhance professional skills
Exploring future services (semantic searching, etc.)
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

9. PDG Values
Basis of our actions are the PDG Statutes, the approved strategy and the Guidelines on Anti-Trust
Trustworthy relationships among ourselves and with external parties
Open discussion and sharing of information, experience and best-practices amongst members
Close collaboration in working groups
Active participation of all members
Open to new members
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10. PDG Main Working Groups
IMPACT on the provision of patent information globally; data quality, availability, timeliness and user-friendly access
Discussions with providers on strategic issues to influence the development of products
Advising providers and exchanging knowledge and experience in the field of patent information search & retrieval
Exchanging knowledge and experience and advising providers in the field of patent information analysis & visualization
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11. Typical Agenda for a Working Group Meeting
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12.
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

13. Day 2: Session with Providers
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

14. Major Advantages and Benefits of PDG Membership (1)
PDG membership is made up of top tier innovation-driven companies from a wide range of technology areas, often the leaders in their fields. Participation supports member companies' reputation as industry leaders in IP
The wide range of activities and information exchange leads to a better  understanding of  industry trends and forecasts which help PDG members to make educated decisions and prepare strategic plans
PDG members exchange experience about the use and value of information resources and vendor reputations (within the limits of our anti-trust guidelines).  In this way, we share our workload and save resources
All member interactions are based on trust, so that we do not discuss anything that would directly impact on the areas where our companies compete
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

15. Major Advantages and Benefits of PDG Membership (2)
Major Advantages and Benefits of PDG Membership (2)
The PDG is a highly respected key opinion leader with regard to patent information provision at the EPO and beyond
PDG Members meet regularly with information providers and patent offices to initiate, discuss and advise on strategic issues
The PDG supports and encourages information providers to develop new products and improve their existing systems and services
The PDG works closely with the EPO and the national patent offices and has an official observer status at WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization)
The PDG liaises closely with other organizations such as CEPIUG, P-D-R, PIUG, JIPA, as well as with BusinessEurope
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

16. Major Advantages and Benefits of PDG Membership (3)
PDG Members benefit from participation in the activities of the PDG’s Working Groups or by attending the PDG’s Annual Members’ Meeting
The PDG offers a great stage for networking with peers, learning, pursuing personal professional development and benchmarking.
Friendly platform to expose yourself
Staying on the cutting edge of information technology
Tips & tricks on several topics
Platform for discussions with patent offices and information providers in order to better advocate our interests
PDG members discuss staff roles and responsibilities, share practical insights, exchange knowledge, experience and ideas. All are connected to our daily work in patent information
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

17. PDG Membership Terms & Conditions
Corporate membership only
Open to companies actively engaged in industrial R&D
Members have a major presence in Europe
Members have an active patent and / or patent information department and have professional staff engaged in patent information activities
Members are expected to participate actively in the work of the PDG
Decisions on acceptance of application for PDG membership is made by existing PDG Main Delegates
Moderate annual fee for corporate membership currently € 1,500
PDG membership is corporate based not individuals based.
Member organizations should be research based companies with a major presence in Europe. And – within their industrial sector they play a significant role. Member organizations are expected to have an active patent or patent information department and staff engaged in patent information activities.
Member companies are expected through their main delegate or other interested staff to participate actively in the work of PDG by actively participating in working groups or meetings.
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

18. PDG Membership
For further information see: If you want to apply for PDG membership please contact Dr. Alexander Mullen PDG (Secretary General) 
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

19. Thank you for your attention !
Any Questions ?

20. Five main focus topics of the PDG Working Group IMPACT
Worldwide networking with main patent offices to communicate our members’ needs
Coordinating the requirements of the global user community with regard to complete, reliable, in time and standardized legal status data
The leading voice with regard to high quality of the main classification systems: IPC, CPC, F/FI terms
Making patent information more user-friendly via standards on WIPO level as an observer organization
Actively involved in the initiatives of the five largest patent offices as part of the IP5 Industry delegation
PDG – EPO-PIC 2016, Madrid

21. PDG Aims
Maintain PDG position as acknowledged partner of EPO, WIPO, national patent offices and user organizations
Enhance further PDG collaboration with organizations worldwide for matters relating to harmonization of patent information e.g. with BusinessEurope in IP5 activities
Strengthening the role as a leading partner for commercial providers with respect to patent information services and tools, at a technical and strategic level
Encourage personal development of staff of member companies
Maintain diversity of membership with respect to industries and their regional coverage within Europe
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