Trace a patent lead to its status
Start with an Espacenet publication, look up any relevant PCT application in PATENTSCOPE, then check the European procedure in the EPO Register.
Documents to open in this workflow
This order suggests a starting point; revisit a step if identifiers, dates or versions disagree. Access and reuse terms depend on each service.
Espacenet
Search patent publications and trace technical developments across countries.
What to record
Publication number, priority, applicant, family, territory and dated register status.
Source-specific check
Publication does not mean grant in every country or a marketed product.
Open source portalWIPO · PATENTSCOPE
Search published PCT international applications and documents from participating national or regional offices.
What to record
Publication and application numbers, priority, applicant, language and documents read.
Source-specific check
Do not treat an international application and national phases as one enforceable right.
Open source portalEuropean Patent Register · EPO
Check procedural stages, grant, opposition and legal information for a published European application.
What to record
Application number, procedural event, date, document and linked national register.
Source-specific check
Place events in the procedure; European status does not replace territorial checks after grant.
Open source portal
Matching condition
Link publication, application and priority; check territorial branch and status date.
If results disagree
For different statuses, check stage, office and territory before asserting withdrawal or grant.
Output to produce
Procedure timeline by application and territory.
Separate documentary evidence, demonstrated links between documents and remaining inference. State the owner and review trigger.
Supporting methods
Producer references
Matching table to complete
This is a blank template, not a research result. Record the exact item and observation for each source before making the decision.
| Source | Document or exact URL | Date and version | Observation and passage | Scope and limit | Link established or unestablished |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Espacenet | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
| WIPO · PATENTSCOPE | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
| European Patent Register · EPO | To record | To record | To record | To record | To record |
Frequently asked questions
What link should be checked before matching results?
Link publication, application and priority; check territorial branch and status date.
What if sources appear to contradict each other?
For different statuses, check stage, office and territory before asserting withdrawal or grant.
Do the listed portals provide independent confirmation?
Not necessarily. Identify the producer and underlying document. Two interfaces distributing one item can check transcription but do not establish a fact independently twice.