"80% of technical information found only in patents" – Is there proof of this [1]?. (March 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Asche, Geert
• Is Part Of: World patent information. Volume 48(2017)
• Page Start: 16
• Page End: 28
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Subjects: 80% information patents -- Patent statistics -- Use/statistics patent literature; Patent literature -- Periodicals; Information storage and retrieval systems -- Patent documentation -- Periodicals; 608.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wpi.2016.11.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0172-2190

Abstract

Abstract: "80% of technical information is published only in patents". This sentence is well known among information and patent professionals. Within this publication the commonly considered source of this statement is cited and examples of different published patent statistics are given, illustrating previous approaches of quantifying information. Prospects for the importance of patent literature are provided considering the rising number of patent publications over the last decades. The conclusion of this verification is that the 80%-phrase cannot be used without making some limitations, nevertheless this will continue existing for a long period of time.