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Patent Information Users Group, Inc.

The International Society for Patent Information Professionals

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Patent Information Users Group, Inc.  The International Society for Patent Information Professionals

Who is PIUG?

The Patent Information Users Group, Inc. (PIUG) – The International Society for Patent Information Professionals is a not-for-profit organization for individuals having a professional, scientific or technical interest in patent information. The mission of PIUG is to support, assist, improve and enhance the success of patent information professionals through leadership, education, communication, advocacy and networking. Through this international forum and discussion, we also promote and improve the retrieval, analysis and dissemination of patent information.

The PIUG membership brochure offers concise information about PIUG and its many benefits for the patent information community.

PIUG has over 310 active members representing 23 countries including the United States. The largest concentration of members is from the USA, Europe and India. PIUG members are patent attorneys, patent agents, licensing professionals, patent information researchers, patent information vendors, and patent information and documentation experts from the U.S. and abroad.

We have over 160 patent information professionals who do patent searching for corporations, over 40 working for vendors, over 50 patent information consultants, over 40 patent information professionals within law firms, and over 10 searchers each working for Government Offices or based in academic institutions. We are employed in performing patentability, freedom-to-practice, and validity patent searches for Fortune 500 / multinational companies, leading universities and major IP law firms. In recent years, PIUG members have also engaged in patent information analysis as a strategic innovation tool.

PIUG has a Public Discussion Forum on the website which is available for new posts, a global collaborative tool with over 1800 subscribers worldwide. In addition, we have presence in professional and social networking channels, such as LinkedIn and Twitter. Get to know us and meet the PIUG Officers.

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PIUG History

Brief History

PIUG was founded in the United States in 1988 by an ad hoc group of patent information scientists working in the chemical, pharmaceutical, petroleum, and technology industries. (Lambert, 1993; Berks, 1993; Davis, 2009) The impetus was to develop open communication among individual patent searchers and database producers in order to supplement existing conversations generally limited to database producers and customer companies’ managers at subscriber meetings and intercompany managers conferences. It was envisioned as “a coalition of North American patent professionals whose charter is to monitor and discuss issues and developments of concern to the patent users community, and to work with database producers and vendors and the USPTO to make (or unmake) changes to benefit that [patent users] community.” (Lambert, 1991) PIUG had 17 founding members at its first meeting in 1988 and was led initially by Mike Feider (Chair), Nancy Lambert (Recording Secretary) and Pat Dorler (Treasurer) (PIUG Past Officers and Directors).   Read our Full History

PIUG offers its updated membership for distribution to members and potential members alike. It provides concise information about PIUG and its many benefits for the patent information community.

Anyone planning on attending a non-PIUG conference and interested in giving out this brochure may contact membership@piug.org for a version that can be printed by a professional printing agency
   
Become a Member

PIUG offers a wide network of professionals

Believe it or not, the world of patent professionals is far wider than you imagine!


From patent information researchers to licensing professionals, patent attorneys to commercialization managers, there is only one patent information professional association that gives you access to this growing community. Worldwide since 1988.


Become a Member

PIUG - Patent Information User Group, Inc.

Mailing Address:  
40 E. Main St., #1438
Newark, DE  19711

Phone: +1 (302) 660-3275   
Fax: +1 (302) 660-3276
Email: PIUGinfo@piug.org

Webmaster: webmaster@piug.org

Notice on use of PIUG name and logo:  

No one may use the PIUG name or logo for any promotional or commercial purpose or any other purpose without the prior written consent of the PIUG Board of Directors.  

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