Patent libraries

Re west coast patent libraries:
 
  The two that I've personally used are the Sunnyvale patent library
(which Tim May mentioned in an earlier post) and the one at University
of Washington in Seattle.  The Sunnyvale library is the more complete,
with all patents (microfilm for older ones, paper for newer) and gazettes
availble.  UW only goes back to the mid-sixties or so, but I suspect
this will cover all crypto patents.
 
Eric asks:
>Do they have electronic access at this library, or is it
>paper only?  I know they have a fax service for which they charge,
>but is there downloadable text available?
 
  Both libraries mentioned above have CD-ROM facilities which you can
browse onsite.  To the best of my recollection, though, the CDs only
include abstracts and licensing information, and not the full text of
the patents.  I'll likely be back in the Sunnyvale area sometime in
the next couple of months, but in the meantime, someone might want to
verify my recollections about the CD-ROM info.  The CD-ROM reader at
the Sunnyvale library seems to be heavily utilized, so you might want
to call ahead and book some time on it.
 
  If you want to check out the UW library and you're not familiar with
the area, stop at the UW Visitor's Centre first, or risk getting lost
in a strange and bizarre environment.
 
  Canadians looking for patent info... don't bother, unless you're in
the Ottawa/Hull area, are near a university that has the stuff on CD,
or have sufficient connections to get the stuff through CTIS at a
reasonable price.  Our government (now headed by the flakiest female
PC politician this side of Hilary Clinton <sound of stomach
churning>) seems to have granted exclusive rights to patent
distribution to some bogus little microfiche company in Hull
(MicroMedia) that wants some ungodly per-page charge for copying.
 
  -- Steve

Here's some info about the Sunnyvale patent library.  You can walk-in
and do it all yourself, for free.  Bring a few rolls of dimes, since
they don't make change and their copiers don't have mag-cards.  Or,
you can put down a deposit and have them copy patents and mail or fax
them to you.  I've done it both ways.

It's on a back street, in an old elementary school complex.  A bit
hard to find.  Call for directions.  It's worth spending a day there
e.g. looking up crypto patents, if your days aren't in short supply.
I found the microcode to the 68000 in there, among other things.

	John Gilmore

Sunnyvale Patent Information Clearinghouse
1500 Partridge Avenue, Building 7
Sunnyvale, CA  94087
+1 408 730 7290  voice
+1 408 735 8762  fax

Sunnyvale Patent Information Clearinghouse has a complete set of US
patents and trademarks from number one to the present issue.  We
provide rapid document delivery at an affordable price.
Orders may be phoned in during office hours (M-F, 9-5) or faxed at
your convenience.

Patent copy charges are:

Regular charge --	$3.55 per patent, 90c/page, plus postage
24 hour turnaround

Express mail --		$3.55 per patent, 90c/page, handling fee $8.60,
same day service	plus express charge
(3pm cutoff)

Fax -- same day		$14.30 per patent, $1.60/page

Fax -- within 2 hours	$35.65 per patent, $1.60/page

Special pick-up		$3.55 per patent, 90c/page, handling fee $8.60 
in person

DEPOSIT ACCOUNT SERVICE:  You must establish a deposit account before
receiving patent copies.  The minimum deposit is $75.  On your
letterhead stationary, submit names authorized to use the deposit
account.  Checks should be made payable to the City of Sunnyvale.
--
John Gilmore                gnu@toad.com  --  gnu@cygnus.com  --  gnu@eff.org
Creating freedom, rather than longer chains, bigger cages, better meals, . . .