International Patents, 1890-2020

General Collection Information

This collection contains a registry of international patents. This unique collection offers information that can’t be found in most other sources. More than just facts and figures, patents give insight into the mind and creative process of the inventor. You may also learn more about your ancestor’s professional life, depending on how many patents they had and how popular the invention was.

Using this Collection

The collection may include the following information:

Can’t find a record? Try searching different variations of a company’s name. For example, is the patent held by GE or General Electric or General Electric Company? Although this collection does group common names together, it’s always helpful to search for other possible names.

Often the name of the patent holder will change over time. Sometimes, a patent will expire and someone else will buy the rights. In the case of patents held by companies, it can get a bit more complicated. If the company is sold or merged, the name on the patent will need to reflect the change in the company’s status.

Collection in Context

A patent is a legal document that protects a person’s intellectual property. The history of the patent dates back to 1416, when the first patent was awarded to Ser Franciscus Petri of Rhodes. In 1624, the British parliament passed the “Statute of Monopolies,” which is considered to be the basis of modern patent law. Before the statute was passed, the monarchy had been known to grant patents to the nobility for products that already existed. The Statute of Monopolies allowed the patent practice to continue, but only for inventions that were actually new. In the U.S., patent law began with the constitution and continues to evolve to the present day.

Currently, patent protection covers each country where a patent is held, however inventions may be patented in multiple countries. In the U.S., patents last for 20 years, but the patent must be periodically maintained to keep from expiring.

Bibliography

USC Gould School of Law. “History of Patent Law.” Last Modified July 23, 2021. https://onlinellm.usc.edu/blog/history-of-patent-law/.

Ladas & Parry Law Firm. “A Brief History of the patent law of the United States.” Last Modified May 7, 2014. https://ladas.com/education-center/a-brief-history-of-the-patent-law-of-the-united-states-2/.

Kwong, Matt “Six Significant Moments in Patent History.” Thomson Reuters. November 4, 2014. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-moments-patent/six-significant-moments-in-patent-history-idUSKBN0IN1Y120141104.