Compiled in English by editorial staff, the database provides a short abstract detailing the nature and use of the invention described in a patent and is indexed into alphanumeric technology categories to allow retrieval of relevant patent documents by users.
Each record within the database defines a patent family, the grouping of patent documentation recorded at the various patent offices as protection of an invention is sought around the world. Each patent family is grouped around a Basic Patent, which is usually the first published example of the invention. All subsequent filings are referred back to the Basic Patent, and are referred to as Equivalent Patents. On this basis, the database has some 20 million "inventions", corresponding to tens of millions of patents, with almost a million new inventions added each year.[3] From 2008, the number format of the Basic Patent Identifier (the Accession Number) changed,[4] to allow up to 3.6 million records per year to be added, as the previous format only allowed a maximum of 1 million new records a year. This is due to the steady increase in unique patents filed each year.
Derwent produces its own proprietary patent classification codes, called manual codes. The classification system contains subdivisions related to chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering subject matter.[5]
Derwent indexers add standardized 4-letter codes to DWPI records to represent certain patent-holding companies. These codes are not available for all companies - only the top patent holding companies have these standard Derwent codes.[6]
Derwent World Patents Index can trace its origin to Delphion patent database, that originated in pre-World Wide Web era.[7]Thomson Reuters acquired Delphion first, and them sold it to Clarivate in 2016.
