# Google Patents Search Scraper (`fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper`) Actor Scrape Google Patents search results and patent metadata from public pages. - **URL**: https://apify.com/fetch\_cat/google-patents-search-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Hanna Nosova](https://apify.com/fetch_cat) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.03 / 1,000 patent records This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events. Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Google Patents Search Scraper Google Patents Search Scraper exports public patent search results and patent detail metadata from Google Patents queries, URLs, or publication IDs. Use it for prior-art discovery, assignee monitoring, inventor research, competitive IP landscaping, and structured patent datasets for analysis. ### At a glance - **Extracts:** patent ID, title, URL, snippet, inventor and assignee data, key dates, jurisdiction/status hints, classifications, citations, PDF URL, and scrape timestamp when available. - **Inputs:** Google Patents queries, direct patent URLs or IDs, maximum records, detail enrichment toggle, and optional proxy settings. - **Best for:** IP research, R&D monitoring, patent landscape snapshots, competitive intelligence, and API-based patent collection. - **Exports:** Apify dataset rows downloadable as CSV, JSON, Excel, or available through the API. - **Login:** no Google account, cookies, or Google API key are required. ### Ready-to-run examples Use these saved Store examples as starting points. Open any example to prefill the Actor input, then adjust URLs, keywords, limits, or filters for your own run. - **[Run multiple Google Patents searches at once](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper/examples/multi-query-patent-monitoring)** - **[Fast Google Patents search export](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper/examples/patent-search-fast-export)** - **[Build an EV charging patent dataset](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper/examples/ev-charging-patent-landscape)** - **[Search AI medical imaging patents](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper/examples/ai-medical-imaging-patents)** - **[Extract metadata from Google Patents URLs](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper/examples/patent-url-batch-extraction)** - **[Extract metadata from patent IDs](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper/examples/known-patent-id-metadata)** - **[View all ready-to-run examples](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper/examples)** (10 examples) ### What can it do? - **Export Google Patents search results:** run public patent queries and save structured rows for analysis. - **Enrich known patent IDs:** pass publication IDs or patent URLs to collect detail-page metadata. - **Monitor assignees and inventors:** use Google Patents query operators to track companies, inventors, technologies, or date ranges. - **Collect IP research fields:** save titles, assignees, inventors, dates, abstracts, classifications, citations, PDF URLs, and source links when available. - **Use as a patent data API workflow:** run from Apify API, export CSV/Excel/JSON, schedule repeat searches, or expose the Actor to AI agents through Apify MCP. ### Common workflows - **Search by assignee or inventor:** use Google Patents operators such as `assignee:(Company)` or `inventor:(Name)`. - **Build patent landscape samples:** run broad technical queries with a small `maxItems`, then expand once the query is right. - **Enrich known IDs:** paste publication IDs or Google Patents URLs into `patentUrls` and enable details. - **Collect API-ready patent rows:** schedule repeat runs and export dataset rows into BI, notebooks, or internal databases. ### Input configuration | Setting | JSON key | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | Search queries | `queries` | Google Patents search strings. You can use natural language or Google Patents syntax such as `assignee:(Tesla)`, `inventor:(Smith)`, `before:2024`, or `after:2020`. | | Patent URLs or IDs | `patentUrls` | Direct Google Patents URLs or publication IDs such as `US7654321B2`. These are processed before query results. | | Maximum patent records | `maxItems` | Maximum rows to save across all queries and direct inputs. | | Include detail-page metadata | `includeDetails` | Fetch each patent detail page to add richer metadata such as abstracts, citations, classifications, PDF URLs, and additional dates. | | Proxy configuration | `proxyConfiguration` | Optional Apify Proxy settings. Leave disabled for normal public runs; enable only if Google returns temporary errors from your network. | ### Example input ```json { "queries": ["assignee:(Tesla) battery"], "patentUrls": ["US7654321B2"], "maxItems": 10, "includeDetails": true, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ```` ### Output fields | Field | Description | | --- | --- | | `query`, `rank` | Search query and saved result rank, or null for direct patent inputs. | | `patentId`, `patentUrl`, `patentTitle` | Normalized patent identifier, Google Patents URL, and title when available. | | `snippet`, `abstract` | Search snippet and detail-page abstract when available. | | `inventor`, `inventors` | Primary inventor string and parsed inventor list. | | `assignee`, `assignees` | Primary assignee string and parsed assignee list. | | `priorityDate`, `filingDate`, `publicationDate`, `grantDate` | Patent dates when returned by search or detail pages. | | `applicationNumber`, `publicationNumber` | Patent application and publication numbers when available. | | `language`, `status`, `jurisdictions` | Public language/status/jurisdiction hints from Google Patents data. | | `classifications`, `citations` | Detail-page classification and citation values when enrichment finds them. | | `pdfUrl`, `thumbnailUrl` | Public PDF and thumbnail URLs when exposed by Google Patents. | | `source`, `scrapedAt` | Whether the row came from search or direct detail input, plus scrape timestamp. | ### Example output ```json { "query": "assignee:(Tesla) battery", "rank": 1, "patentId": "US7654321B2", "patentUrl": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US7654321B2/en", "patentTitle": "Example battery patent title", "inventors": ["Example Inventor"], "assignees": ["Example Assignee"], "publicationDate": "2026-01-01", "classifications": ["H01M"], "pdfUrl": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US7654321B2/en.pdf", "source": "search", "scrapedAt": "2026-07-03T09:00:00.000Z" } ``` ### Pricing This Actor uses paid events from `.actor/actor.json`. | Event | When charged | Price | | --- | --- | --- | | `start` | Once when a run starts | `$0.005` per run | | `item` | Each patent search or detail record saved to the dataset | BRONZE `$0.000053848` per saved patent record, about `$0.053848` per 1,000 saved records | Only saved patent rows are charged as `item` events. A run that starts but saves no patent rows can still incur the `start` event. ### Tips for best results - **Start with small limits:** test a query with 5-10 records before collecting larger samples. - **Use Google Patents syntax:** assignee, inventor, date, and quoted phrase operators can make results much cleaner. - **Enable details when you need richer fields:** detail enrichment is slower but can add abstracts, classifications, citations, and PDF URLs. - **Use direct IDs for known patents:** `patentUrls` is the cleanest path when you already have publication numbers. ### Limits and caveats - **Detail fields depend on page availability:** some patents do not expose every date, citation, PDF, or classification in the same way. - **No full claims extraction:** this Actor collects search/detail metadata. It does not parse every claim or the full legal description text. - **Google can throttle:** if you see temporary errors, lower volume or enable an appropriate proxy configuration. - **Patent data is informational:** verify important legal conclusions against official patent offices or counsel. ### API usage Run from the Apify API or SDK with the same input keys shown above. ```js import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN }); const run = await client.actor('fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper').call({ queries: ['assignee:(Tesla) battery'], maxItems: 10, includeDetails: true }); console.log(run.defaultDatasetId); ``` ### MCP and AI agents For AI agents, use the official Apify MCP server. The focused single-Actor URL is: ```text https://mcp.apify.com?tools=fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper ``` The default MCP server can search and run Actors. The focused URL exposes this Actor directly to clients that support tool-scoped MCP connections. ### FAQ **Can I search by assignee or inventor?** Yes. Use Google Patents query syntax such as `assignee:(Tesla)` or `inventor:(Smith)`. **Can I scrape a list of patent IDs?** Yes. Put publication IDs or Google Patents URLs in `patentUrls`. **Should I enable detail enrichment?** Enable it when you need abstracts, PDF URLs, classifications, citations, or additional dates. Disable it for faster search-result snapshots. **Why are some fields empty?** Google Patents does not expose every field for every record, and detail fields require available detail pages. **Can I export to CSV, Excel, JSON, or API?** Yes. Use Apify dataset exports or the dataset API after the run finishes. ### Related actors - [Google Scholar Profiles Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-scholar-profiles-scraper) - [Google News Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-news-scraper) - [Google Play Apps Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-play-apps-scraper) - [Google Ads Transparency Center Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/google-ads-transparency-scraper) ### Support If a run fails, returns no data, or a field looks wrong, open an issue from the Actor page. Please include the Apify run ID or run URL, input JSON, one example public URL, query, or input item, what you expected, and what the dataset returned. Small reproducible inputs make parsing or site-layout issues much faster to fix. ### Changelog - 2026-07-04 - Feature: Launched Google Patents Search Scraper on Apify Store (APIA-1222) - This actor is now publicly available at https://apify.com/fetch\_cat/google-patents-search-scraper. #### 0.1 - Initial public release with Google Patents query search, direct patent ID/URL inputs, optional detail enrichment, paid event pricing, and dataset output support. # Actor input Schema ## `queries` (type: `array`): Google Patents queries. You can use natural language or Google Patents syntax such as assignee:(Tesla), inventor:(Smith), before:2024, or after:2020. ## `patentUrls` (type: `array`): Optional direct Google Patents URLs or publication IDs such as US7654321B2. These are scraped before query results. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of patent records to save across all queries and direct URLs. ## `includeDetails` (type: `boolean`): Fetch each patent detail page to add abstracts, citations, classifications, PDF URLs, and additional dates. Slower but richer. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional Apify Proxy settings. Leave disabled for normal public Google Patents runs; enable Apify Proxy only if your network receives temporary Google errors. ## Actor input object example ```json { "queries": [ "solar panel", "assignee:(Tesla) battery" ], "patentUrls": [ "US7654321B2", "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10000000B2/en" ], "maxItems": 20, "includeDetails": true, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `overview` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "queries": [ "solar panel", "assignee:(Tesla) battery" ], "patentUrls": [ "US7654321B2", "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10000000B2/en" ], "maxItems": 20, "includeDetails": true, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "queries": [ "solar panel", "assignee:(Tesla) battery", ], "patentUrls": [ "US7654321B2", "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10000000B2/en", ], "maxItems": 20, "includeDetails": True, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": False }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "queries": [ "solar panel", "assignee:(Tesla) battery" ], "patentUrls": [ "US7654321B2", "https://patents.google.com/patent/US10000000B2/en" ], "maxItems": 20, "includeDetails": true, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } }' | apify call fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch_cat/google-patents-search-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Google Patents Search Scraper", "description": "Scrape Google Patents search results and patent metadata from public pages.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "ePjaguZLgylT6kjX8" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/fetch_cat~google-patents-search-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-fetch_cat-google-patents-search-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/fetch_cat~google-patents-search-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-fetch_cat-google-patents-search-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/fetch_cat~google-patents-search-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-fetch_cat-google-patents-search-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "queries": { "title": "Search queries", "type": "array", "description": "Google Patents queries. You can use natural language or Google Patents syntax such as assignee:(Tesla), inventor:(Smith), before:2024, or after:2020.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "patentUrls": { "title": "Patent URLs or IDs", "type": "array", "description": "Optional direct Google Patents URLs or publication IDs such as US7654321B2. These are scraped before query results.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxItems": { "title": "Maximum patent records", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 10000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of patent records to save across all queries and direct URLs.", "default": 20 }, "includeDetails": { "title": "Include detail-page metadata", "type": "boolean", "description": "Fetch each patent detail page to add abstracts, citations, classifications, PDF URLs, and additional dates. Slower but richer.", "default": true }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional Apify Proxy settings. Leave disabled for normal public Google Patents runs; enable Apify Proxy only if your network receives temporary Google errors.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": false } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```