Patent groups and their relationship with journal literature

Two samples of British patents and patent applications published in 1980 were assembled concerning pharmaceuticals and food preparation. Other patents were sought, published in the five years either side of 1980, which marked out an extended research programme including the original 1980 patent. About half the 1980 sample belonged to groups. The overlap of patent with journal publications concerning any aspect of group programmes was sought for a sample of groups. These were found to be much larger than the overlaps between one patent and one article; 60.2% for pharmaceuticals and 25.7% for food preparation patents. They reflect more accurately the disclosure of patent information to the wider scientific community.