Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

A Critical Librarianship Approach For Teaching Patent Searching: Who Becomes An Inventor In America?, Dave Zwicky, Ilana Stonebraker

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

The ways in which a technology is invented, owned, and approved are strongly influenced by the same oppressive and exclusionary structures that critical librarianship interrogates. Patents, limited-term grants of rights to inventions, are issued to inventors in exchange for detailed specifications of the invention. This paper examines current practices used by business librarians in teaching students how to find patents and how these practices could be critically informed given the nature of the United States patent system as it exists today. An output of this work is a suggested lesson plan with recommended resources.

“That Means Nothing To Me As A Normal Person Who Doesn't Know About Patents”: Usability Testing Of Google Patents And Patent Public Search With Undergraduate Engineering Students, Graham Sherriff, Molly Rogers

Journal of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

Patent searching is an important research tool for undergraduate engineering students, yet it requires special topic knowledge to conduct successfully. Patent database websites have the ability to alleviate or add to the complexity of patent searching, depending on their usability. Prompted by the launch of the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Public Search (PPS) website in early 2022, the authors investigated the usability of PPS and Google Patents. The study's objective was to gain insights into the ways in which the websites of commonly-used patent databases support undergraduate students’ patent searching activities. The study examined students’ performance of typical …

A Case Study Of The Complicated History Of Rice University’S First Patents, Hannah G. Edlund

Journal of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

Digitization and online public databases have made patent searches a much simpler pursuit in recent years. However, uncovering a pre-digital era patent’s history and context remains challenging. A search for the first patents assigned to Rice University highlighted associated issues. Older patent formats often do not clearly indicate inventor-assignee relationships, and applications and official communications are not available online. To determine how Rice came to own three 1948 patents, extensive archival research was required. Were these patents assigned to the University by inventors, independent of its support or funding, or was their work performed at and for Rice, thus obliging …

“That Means Nothing To Me As A Normal Person Who Doesn't Know About Patents”: Usability Testing Of Google Patents And Patent Public Search With Undergraduate Engineering Students, Graham Sherriff, Molly Rogers

University Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

Patent searching is an important research tool for undergraduate engineering students, yet it requires special topic knowledge to conduct successfully. Patent database websites have the ability to alleviate or add to the complexity of patent searching, depending on their usability. Prompted by the launch of the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Public Search (PPS) website in early 2022, the authors investigated the usability of PPS and Google Patents. The study's objective was to gain insights into the ways in which the websites of commonly-used patent databases support undergraduate students’ patent searching activities. The study examined students’ performance of typical …

Patents And Market Research: Librarians Partnering To Assist Bioengineering Senior Design Teams, Jennifer L. Groff, Meredith Futral

Journal of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

Clemson’s business and engineering librarians have partnered to create a two-step, efficient process to assist Bioengineering Senior Design students in understanding patents and patent searching and market research. Clemson University’s required two-semester Bioengineering Senior Design program matches teams of students with regional clinicians to develop biomedical devices that they research, design, prototype, and test. In the first semester of the program, in which the business and engineering librarians are involved, students take BioE4010-Bioengineering Design Theory. BioE4010 is offered in both the Fall and Spring semesters, but enrollment is significantly higher in the fall. For example, in the Fall of 2021 …

Prior Art Research In The Capstone Design Experience: A Case Study Of Redesigned Online And In-Person Instruction, Graham Sherriff, Dustin Rand

University Libraries Faculty and Staff Publications

Exploration of “prior art”—the state of a technology’s development, as manifested in literature, documentation, and artifacts—has many benefits for engineering students. It expands their understanding of the design problem, reveals a range of possible solutions, and develops research skills important to professional practice. While prior art often includes patents and research literature, it can include any type of publication or document. This paper presents an innovative approach to a prior art review assignment in the capstone course for mechanical, electrical, and biomedical engineering students at the University of Vermont (UVM). The assignment and accompanying instruction were redesigned in 2018–2019 to …

Analysis Of Global Published Literature On Library And Information Science: An Empirical Study Through Big Data Approach (1920-2020), Subhajit Panda, Dr. Atasi Sinhababu, Prof. Rupak Chakravarty

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent of LIS (Library and Information Science) literature referring to and being referred by patents in the form of scholarly citations they attribute and/or receive. The analysis of the present study was done based on a total data-set of 237820 research publications of the LIS discipline ranging from April 1920 to April 2020 (100 years) as mined from the LENS database. LIS research corpus received 22.75 scholarly citations and 6.87 patent citations per paper while utilizing and citing 18667 patents and thus establishing the correlation between the citing-cited link in the …

Using Peer Observation To Branch Into Stem Curricula Through Patent Education, Rebecca "Missy" Murphey, Rachel Edford, Sandy Avila, Buenaventura (Ven) Basco

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This presentation was recorded for the hybrid 2021 Florida Library Association Annual Conference that was held in Daytona Beach, FL on May 19-20, 2021. Access to the video recording is listed below.

Presentation Description:

Through an interdisciplinary entrepreneurial program, academic librarians observed gaps pertaining to a lack of patent knowledge among students and faculty. As an example of libraries leading forward, a group of UCF subject librarians sought to address this issue by discussing how the library can help to integrate patent awareness into a broader STEM library instruction program. Our newly developed peer observation group provided the perfect opportunity …

Questioning Authority: Patents And Source Evaluation In An Era Of Misinformation, Jess O'Toole

Journal of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

In the world of academic research, patents are classified as primary literature, and are recognized as “a rich source of technical, legal and business information presented in a generally standardized format and often not reproduced anywhere else” (World Intellectual Property Organization, 2015, p.4). Because of their status, patents are often left out of conversations surrounding source credibility and evaluation. Recent news relating to the conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and several patents, however, demonstrates the potential use of patents in spreading misinformation and disinformation. Through applying source evaluation techniques in keeping with the Association of College & Research Libraries’ …

An Analysis Of The Patents Granted To The University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville, 2010-2019, Lutishoor Salisbury, Jeremy S. Smith, Tian Yang

University Libraries Faculty Publications and Presentations

This report provides an analysis of the patents were granted for ten years (2010-2019) where at least one of the inventors is affiliated with a department or college from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. It identifies the number of patents with inventors from the various departments; the number of unique inventors in each department; and the college affiliations of the inventors; their inter- and extra-collegiate collaborators from campus and their off-campus campus collaborators.

Information Rich Engineering Design (I-Red) Workshop, Margaret Phillips, Michael Fosmire, Dave Zwicky

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

No abstract provided.

Traditional Knowledge Digital Library: A Magic Bullet In The War Against Biopiracy, Dattatraya Trayambak Kalbande, Priya Suradkar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Traditional Knowledge is not something new or innovative but the distillation of practices or knowledge in the society. India has experienced various initiatives regarding the protection of traditional knowledge under intellectual property rights, including the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, which is a major step to curb biopiracy and in many of these cases the country had to fight for revocation of the granted patents which involved huge costs and time. India has taken misappropriations of its traditional knowledge by developed countries through patenting system. This paper discusses various aspects of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library of India including its role in …

Co-Curricular Innovation: Teaching About Patents As Primary Sources, Bridget Garnai, Heidi Gauder

Roesch Library Faculty Publications

With the rich history of airplane and automotive invention in Dayton, Ohio, and the value of patents as primary sources in mind, librarians Bridget Garnai and Heidi Gauder designed and led two interactive, co-curricular workshops at University of Dayton’s (UD) Roesch Library in Fall 2019 and Spring 2020. Their goals were to introduce students to patents as primary sources that influence daily life and expand students’ ideas of what kinds of research can be supported by patents as primary sources. To that end, Garnai and Gauder created two workshops centered around patents as primary sources, “Patent Pending: Innovation in Society” …

Broadening The Patent Experience: The Value Of Piug And Attending The Patent Information Users Group (Piug) Annual Conference, Paulina Borrego, Rachel Knapp

Journal of the Patent and Trademark Resource Center Association

No abstract provided.

Engaging First Year Students With Intellectual Property, Marian G. Armour-Gemmen

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Since intellectual property is so important to engineers, creating enthusiasm from the beginning of their engineering studies is imperative. Since first year students have not learned how to apply technological concepts to real life, demonstrating intellectual property could be a challenge. To engage first year engineering students in the concept and the value of intellectual property, students were introduced to basic concepts and applications. Different concepts were applied to real life examples allowing them to interface with technology from an intellectual property perspective. This paper highlights not only patents, but also trademarks and trade secrets.

Patents & Information Literacy, Dave Zwicky

Libraries Faculty and Staff Supplemental Materials

The ACRL Framework is an attempt to define information literacy using six threshold concepts. Patents could be a vehicle for addressing those concepts with STEM audiences.

Thoughts On Patents And Information Literacy, Dave Zwicky

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Patents are an under-used information source, in part because of an often-narrow focus by patent librarians on the tools and techniques of patentability searching. This approach can ignore a range of potential applications of patent information, using patents in their contexts as technical, design, historical, legal, and commercial documents. This paper suggests the adoption of a flexible approach, viewing patents and patent information in the greater context of information literacy, including that of the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, more commonly known as the ACRL Framework.

Rp-4.4.2 Patent And Technology Transfer Policy [University Of Nebraska Board Of Regents Policies], University Of Nebraska Board Of Regents

Copyright, Fair Use, Scholarly Communication, etc.

This Patent and Technology Transfer Policy is adopted for the purpose of providing general policy regulations to implement Section 3.10 of the University of Nebraska Bylaws of the Board of Regents.

Inspiring Innovation With Patent Information Literacy In The Engineering Technology Curriculum, Dave Zwicky, Margaret Phillips

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Patents have wide appeal to students, faculty, and employers and can be a potent tool for integrating information literacy (IL) into engineering and technology curricula. There is evidence to show that students use patents to assess the patentability of their design ideas, explore the state of the art in a given area of technology, and to inspire creativity in their work. Faculty use patents and other complementary forms of gray literature to go beyond the traditional IL world of scholarly literature and engage students with information problems that reflect real-world design challenges. Working with patents allows students to develop strategic, …

Information Literacy In Engineering Technology Education: A Case Study, Margaret Phillips, Dave Zwicky

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Information literacy is a vital component of engineering and engineering technology programs, as evidenced by its alignment with the engineering design process, and as required by ABET, the body that accredits all engineering and many engineering technology undergraduate programs. However, information literacy in engineering technology and applied engineering curricula is understudied when compared with information literacy in engineering programs. This paper describes a case study of information literacy integration into an undergraduate mechanical engineering technology design course, with a focus on patent information and patent searching. Online pre- and post-assessment data for four semesters were analyzed, showing improvements in student …

From Creativity To Classification: A Logical Approach To Patent Searching, Marian G. Armour-Gemmen

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Engineering students and professors need to understand and search intellectual property. In the past, librarians have instructed them on using the United States Patent Classification (USPC). In 2015, after a period of transition, the United States Patent and Trademark Office phased out the USPC and began exclusively classifying in the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC). This adoption presented librarians a challenge of instructing students and professors in the easiest and most effective patent search. By tying patent searching to an example and presenting classification in an understandable fashion using CPC in conjunction with USPC, this writer presents a logical directed search …

Patents Information Literacy Engineering Technology Session Materials, Margaret Phillips, Dave Zwicky

Libraries Faculty and Staff Creative Materials

This file contains the following materials developed to support a patents information literacy session in the mechanical engineering technology undergraduate curricula: pre-class exercise, in-class exercise, lesson plan, and pre/post session assessments.

Ownership Of Intellectual Property In The Library Complex, Patrick Roughen

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

In order to broadly explore intellectual property in the context of the library complex, this research examines the patents produced by companies that provide goods and services to libraries, as well as patents associated with international libraries. This paper also surveys the trademarks and copyrights held by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. This research suggests ways in which development of intellectual property by U.S. libraries might evolve in the future, with evidence obtained primarily through the searching of online databases.

Patent Information Use In Engineering Technology Design: An Analysis Of Student Work, Margaret Phillips, Dave Zwicky

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

How might engineering technology students make use of patent information in the engineering design process? Librarians analyzed team project reports and personal reflections created by students in an undergraduate mechanical engineering technology design course, revealing that the students used patents to consider the patentability of their ideas, to explore the state of the art in given areas of technology, and to inspire creative problem solving. These results have implications for future patent-related instruction and for conducting information literacy outreach to engineering and engineering technology departments.

Adding Patent Records To Clemson's Ir--Highlighting The University's Output, Andrew Wesolek, Jan Comfort, Lisa Bodenheimer, Brenda Burk

Jan Comfort

Documenting Your Institution's Patents: A Case Study From Clemson University, Jan Comfort

Jan Comfort

Increasing Access To Clemson University Patents, Jan Comfort, Andy Wesolek, Lisa Bodenheimer, Brenda Burk

Jan Comfort

Increasing Access To Clemson University Patents, Jan Comfort, Andy Wesolek, Lisa Bodenheimer, Brenda Burk

Lisa Bodenheimer

Integration Of Information Literacy Skills To Mechanical Engineering Capstone Projects, Farshid Zabihian, Mary L. Strife, Marian G. Armour-Gemmen

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Searching for information and using that information appropriately is an essential part of every engineering design project. It has been reported that design engineers spend about 30% of their time searching for information. Experience shows that even senior level students have not received proper training, either directly or indirectly, in information literacy (IL). They usually search for information intuitively. For mechanical and aerospace engineering students at West Virginia University Institute of Technology (WVU Tech), the Mechanical Engineering System Design I and II courses (MAE 480 and 481) are probably the last chance to teach students about IL. In this project, …

The 360° Of Information Fluency Delivery To Freshman Engineering Students, Marian G. Armour-Gemmen, Robin A.M. Hensel, Mary L. Strife

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

For three years, engineering librarians from West Virginia University (WVU) have been teaching information fluency skills to 700-1000 freshman engineering students per year, using a specific information fluency cycle. The librarians’ responsibilities in the Fall 2013 course syllabus included teaching once in each section, providing a two-hour, in-library group sessions to accommodate almost 700 students, delivering an intellectual property Blackboard™ module for students to complete over a specific period of time, and requiring students to complete a Plagiarism Avoidance Tutorial with quiz. Some of these components are similar to those of past semesters. However, past collection of the data was …