Patents: A unique source for scientific technical information in chemistry related industry?

A study was done to find the source of first publication and the number of non-patent publications from those whose first publication is in patent literature. Patent information is not always used as source for scientific technical information; however information disclosed in patents does not always appear in non-patent literature later. The latest studies published on the uniqueness of information disclosed in patents were Liebesny [Liebesny F et al. The scientific and technical information contained in patent specifications. The extent and time factors of its publication in other forms of literature. Inform Scientist 1974;8(4):165-77 [Reprint]] and Terapane [Terapane JF. A unique source of information. Chemtech 1978;8:272-76]. This study was undertaken to have current data on what we are missing when patent information is not used in the area of chemistry information. Looking at a sample of substance information reported in both patent and journal literature represented in the CAS databases suggests that a significant amount of this information does appear in patents before it is reported elsewhere; in some cases the disclosure in patents may truly be the only report.