| Monty Hyams (1918-2013): Patent Information Pioneer | home | intro | derwent | personal | downloads | links |
Becoming part of a publishing empire
In
late 1965 Derwent applied for one
of the first Queen’s Awards for Export Achievement, and although
unsuccessful
at that time (we won it later) this drew us to the attention of some
large companies who expressed interest in a buyout.
I
was ready to listen as the operation
was now getting too big for me to handle. Remember that all my training
had
been in science, not business. Also customers were asking pointedly:
“what if
you disappear?”
Unlike
other bidders, the Thomson
Organisation were happy with a half-share of the business initially and
to let
me carry on as I saw fit, which appealed. I also found Roy Thomson, the
newspaper
tycoon, recently enobled as Baron Thomson of Fleet, a charming,
unassuming
man, easy to relate to.
The
deal had a very
good feel and I never regretted it. Having
large company backing enabled us to invest in new technology, provided
invaluable
contacts and sources of advice, and massively reassured our customers.
It also added to our credibility during the late ‘60s and early ‘70s
during negotiations with national and international patents
bodies
over who should take the lead in a World Patents Index.
Roy
Thomson’s organisation in
the 1960s had resources and expertise I could never have
aspired to
continuing alone.That's even more the case with today's Thomson
Reuters.
Although
I only fully retired
from technical publishing work two years ago (aged 93) my Derwent role
concluded a quarter century ago when the technology was as I've been
describing. So I've watched with envy as my 'baby' has evolved
to
today's state in the world of the Internet and so much else besides.
But
there is continuity in the essentials. Concentration on the
key
features of inventions; indexing refined continually with the input of
customers; every search and retrieval
facility that the technology enabled -- often as pioneers at
the
cutting
edge. And an approach -- right from when I was working from my home in
suburban London -- that aimed to be global in scope.
It’s turned out wonderfully. Good luck to you all -- and here's to the next 50 years of Derwent World Patents Index! How this interview was compiled
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