Patent Downloader
@Edison-A-N
A Python SDK for downloading patents from Google Patents with Model Context Protocol (MCP) support.
Overview
What is Patent Downloader?
Patent Downloader is a Python SDK for downloading patent PDFs from Google Patents, with built-in support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It is designed for developers who need to programmatically retrieve patent documents and integrate patent downloading into AI-powered tools or workflows.
How to use Patent Downloader?
Install the package via pip or uv (recommended). Use the command-line interface to download patents, e.g., patent-downloader download WO2013078254A1. To start the MCP server, run patent-downloader mcp-server or use uvx patent-downloader mcp-server without installation. Set the default output directory with the OUTPUT_DIR environment variable.
Key features of Patent Downloader
- Download patent PDFs from Google Patents
- Simple and clean Python API with type hints
- MCP server support for AI assistant integration
- Command-line interface for quick downloads
- Comprehensive error handling
Use cases of Patent Downloader
- Download a single patent by its number
- Batch-download multiple patents at once
- Retrieve patent metadata (title, inventors, abstract)
- Integrate patent downloading into an AI agent via MCP
- Automate patent research and analysis pipelines
FAQ from Patent Downloader
Do I need to install the full package to run the MCP server?
No. You can run the MCP server directly using uvx patent-downloader mcp-server without installing the package.
How do I set a custom download directory?
Use the --output-dir option in the CLI, or set the OUTPUT_DIR environment variable before starting the MCP server. The default is ./downloads.
What patent numbers are supported?
Any patent number that works with Google Patents (e.g., WO2013078254A1, US20130123448A1).
Does Patent Downloader require authentication or API keys?
The README does not mention any authentication requirements; no API keys or credentials are needed.
What transport does the MCP server use?
The MCP server uses stdio transport. Start it with patent-downloader mcp-server or via uvx.
