Patent information services on the Internet: threat or valuable resource for information centres? The Italian experience

Value added services: The threat of the Internet - Will patent databases on the Internet make Info Centres superflous by providing a direst contact between users and basic free information. The potential advantages of the Internet-Basic free information on the Internet as a first step to attract customers towards more advanced searches made available by e-mail. Collecting patent, technical and business information from a larger range of databases and sending them by attaching files. The experience of information operators is made available on the desk of inventors and companies in a very short time: example of "push technology". Another potential Internet advantage - The Italian law concerning electronic signature for the release of official patent documents via the Internet. Emerging problems: Fees for advanced searches and services - are they compatible with a public information service? The legal problems. The problems regarding ways of payment - bank transfer, credit card, prepaid services for frequent users. Is a prepaid service for advanced searches compatible with a public information service? Emerging opportunities: Internet and e-commerce services as means to promote the patent system and innovation and to create new jobs. Patent information on the Internet in Italy: A short description of the main web sites in Italy - Italian Patent Office in Rome and Patlib Info Centre in Milan, their development and their experience including statistical data. The use of esp@cenet and of other Internet patent sources in the Italian Patent Information Network (Patent Office and Regional Patlib Info Centres). Future plans and perspectives.