A bulk data collection including the full text in machine-readable format of all patent applications and granted patent specifications published by the EPO since it was set up in 1978.
Download a sample fileThis bulk data set is available in XML and PDF/A as frontfile and backfile data.
| Content |
|
|---|---|
| Formats | Frontfile and backfile: XML ST36 and PDF/A |
| Volume | Frontfile: approx. 2.5 GB (zipped) Backfile in XML(1978 -2016): approx. 1.9 TB (zipped) |
| Delivery | Current data is available as a weekly download. Publication takes place every Wednesday, at 14.00 hrs CET. Backfile data is provided on a hard disk. |
| Price | Subscription (download):
Annual service fee: Backfile: |
The EPO's bulk data sets are also referred to as "raw data products" or "EPO databases".
The terms and conditions for licensing of EPO databases apply (PDF, 101 KB).
The EPO has a legal obligation to publish the patent applications it receives (EP-A documents) and the patents it grants (EP-B documents).
A weekly file containing all EP-A and EP-B documents for that week is published every Wednesday at 14.00 hrs.
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