What is the SPIF Export report, and why is it useful?
What is the SPIF Export report?
SPIF (standardised patent identification) is a non-partisan, open standard, human readable solution for uniquely identifying patent assets.
Brought about by IAM, Richardson Oliver Insights, Unified Patents, RPX & Classification; SPIF is a new initiative designed to reduce the cost of patent transactions and portfolio management by solving the problem of uniquely identifying patents. As an example, identifying and transferring a list of patents from seller to buyer can prove difficult, however SPIF provides a standard so that buyer can match to the sellers list at the click of a button.
It is a free, open standard, using existing formats and is compatible with existing solutions.
SPIF Mission
M&A, licensing, transfer prosecution responsibility and patent analyses all rely at some stage on sharing and referencing often large numbers of patents. SPIF aims to drastically reduce the current inefficiency by simplifying and speeding up this process. Saving time and money in the process. For more details on the idea and mission behind SPIF, please visit the official website.
Methodology & SPIF Format
SPIF is a simple restructuring of the formatting of already available data. This means that SPIF compliant patent lists can be easily exchanged between docketing systems. Both applications and publications (including utility models) can be assigned SPIF identifiers which draw on patent office assigned patent numbers, country codes and more, to make it as straightforward as possible.
For more information on how this works with data from any Classification report, please get in touch with a member of the Classification team.
How to create the SPIF Export Report
1. SPIF Export reports can be downloaded from any Classification report. Simply navigate to report options and select SPIF (below):
2. You will be presented with two export inclusion options:
3. Select as desired and your excel report will begin. Providing you with the below:
How to interpret the SPIF Export Report
In the columns illustrated in '1' above you can see the SPIF application number, SPIF publication number & SPIF filing date.
The columns illustrated in '2' above highlights the organisation, technology and processing comments.
As per the example above, some examples of SPIF will be highlighted in green meaning that they are SPIF compliant.
Those in amber aren’t able to be exported to SPIF, and are non-compliant. This can be for a number of reasons all of which will be described in the comments column. The main reasons for non-compliance (amber) are patents filed pre-2000 aren’t convertible. Also those patents without specified territories are excluded.
Need help? Request support and we’ll connect you with a Classification expert.