PIB is a patent documentation search file for official use intended for determining the state of the art during substantive examination of patent applications. PIB was established in accordance with Decree of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine No. 3769 "On the Entry into Force of the Law of Ukraine "On the Protection of Rights to Inventions and Utility Models" of December 23, 1993 and put into operation on July 1, 1997. PIB contains national patent documentation and foreign patent-information products (in general on modern electronic media – CD-ROM & DVD-ROM) coming from the Patent Offices of the leading countries as well as international intellectual property organizations (EPO, WIPO). The documentation available here includes an extensive back file collection. Patent Information Database composition being updated on July 1, 2011, was approved by the Order of State Department of Intellectual Property № 443-н as of June 8, 2011. Patent Information Database usage is regulated by the Order of State Enterprise “Ukrainian Industrial Property Institute” № 36 as of June 6, 2011 “On Patent Searches Provision during Qualification Examination of Patent Applications”. The PIB’s CD-ROM & DVD-ROM collection as of  February 1, 2011 contains about 13820 discs.