A name search in the context of patent data is a type of search that is conducted to find patents or patent applications associated with a particular person or entity, such as an inventor or assignee.

The purpose of a name search is to identify patents or patent applications that may be relevant to a particular person or entity. For example, a company may conduct a name search to identify patents or patent applications filed by its competitors, or to find potential partners for licensing or collaboration.

A name search can be conducted using various patent databases, such as the European Patent Office’s Espacenet. Users can search for patents or patent applications associated with a specific inventor or assignee by entering their name or other identifying information, such as a company name or address.

It is important to note that a name search may not provide a comprehensive view of all patents or patent applications associated with a particular person or entity, as names can be misspelt, or variations of names can be used. In addition, patents or patent applications may be assigned to multiple entities, making it important to search for all possible assignee names.

Overall, a name search can be a useful tool for patent owners, inventors, and companies seeking to identify relevant patents or patent applications associated with a particular person or entity.

Let’s say you are interested in finding patents that were invented by a particular company named XYZ Corporation. First, you would navigate to the EPO’s website and select the “Espacenet” database. From there, you would enter “XYZ Corporation” into the search bar and select “Inventors or Applicants” from the drop-down menu in the advanced search.

Next, you can further refine your search by adding additional criteria such as the technology field, publication date range, and jurisdiction. Once you have entered all the desired search criteria, you can click “Search” to generate a list of patents that meet your specifications.

You can then review the list of search results to identify any patents that are relevant to your area of interest. From there, you can further analyse the patents and their associated information to gain insights and inform your research or decision-making process.