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In 2015, the Office commenced a “Quality at source” project to ensure standardised patent data information exchange (for inclusion in Espacenet) in compliance with EPO xml XML formats and WIPO standards. This new project will allow us to firstly, establish a standardised front file delivery of patent data and secondly, collect missing back file patent data from 1973 to date in digital format covering bibliographic, image and full-text data (when the quality of the original document allows it).
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This particular approach has been found to be very helpful in providing basic guidance on procedures and forms required for the registration of IP rights, the processes of obtaining IP protection in Ireland or abroad and the timeframes time frames involved. Assistance in constructing a do-it-yourself search strategy for patents and using online patent databases is also provided.
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