Is this patent still valid?
When looking at a patent document it is important to bear in mind
that this patent may be granted and still valid. However, in many cases, a
patent document is not to be considered as a valid granted patent and therefore
does not prevent you from obtaining any rights.
Some elements can help you determine whether or not a patent is
valid.
The patent kind code: if a number is followed by A, A1, A2 it is
usually a patent in its application stage not yet been granted, and the scope
of protection may have changed later.
There are also patent databases giving the legal status of patents:
usually Patent Registers of National Patent Offices or the so-called INPADOC
database maintained by the EPO.
Collection of sites offering Patent Statutory information:
Switzerland
USA
European Patent
Office
The INPADOC data can be accessed on
esp@cenet like this
record
Or from this site under Patent
Family
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