History & News

About Questel

From 1978 to today: our past, present and future

Questel was created in 1978 as a subsidiary of Orange S.A., formerly France Télécom S.A. In 2001, it spun off from France Telecom and focused on IP.
With premises in Europe, US, and Asia, it has become a worldwide leader through an active acquisition strategy and constant innovations becoming standard in the industry.

Our story

2022 Acquisitions

  • Markify – Trademark search and watch specialist, Sweden

2021 Acquisitions

  • doeLEGAL, enterprise Legal management software, USA
  • innosabi, innovation management software, Germany
  • Morningside, leading IP and language services company, USA
  • Novagraaf, Legal & Consulting, Netherland
  • Pavis, Patent Annuities Management, Germany

2020 LBO 4

  • Eurazeo invests in Questel

2020 Launch Services

  • Orbit Capture
  • Orbit Blockchain
  • Orbit Tech

2020 Acquisitions

  • NRI Cyber Patent, IP analytics, intellectual asset management, Japan
  • AboutInnovation, intellectual asset management software, France
  • RenewalsDesk, patent annuity services, UK

2019 Launch Services

  • Orbit Innovation
  • Orbit Partnering

2019 Acquisitions

  • Direct Validation, EP validation services, Sweden
  • Yoomap, open innovation software, France
  • Brandstock, intellectual property software and service, Germany
  • Concur IP, intellectual property services, India

2018 Launch Service

  • Orbit BioSequence

2018 Acquisitions

  • MultiLing, intellectual property language translation services, USA
  • Expernova, scientific big data and open innovation, France

2018 LBO 3

  • IK Investment Partners invests in Questel

2017 Acquisitions

  • ULT, patent and trademark management software, Japan
  • ITIP, prosecution cost management and international filing, USA

2017 Launch service

  • Orbit Chemistry

2016 Launch Services

  • Orbit Intellectual Asset Management (IAM)
  • Orbit Trademark

2015 Launch Service

  • Orbit Express

2015-2016 Acquisitions

  • Intellixir, online IP and scientific analysis, France
  • Gem360, online IP management, France
  • IP Research, prior-art search services, USA

2015 LBO 2

  • Raise and CAPZA (previously Capzanine) invest in Questel exiting Syntegra

2014 Launch Service

  • Orbit IP Business Intelligence

2012 Launch Service

  • ExecutiveIP, IP eLearning service

2010 Launch Service

  • Orbit.com, replacing Qpat.com

2009-2013 Acquisitions

  • Avenium, IP consulting, France
  • ResearchDisclosure, defensive publication publisher, UK
  • PatentPilot, online patent alerting service, Germany

2008 LBO 1

  • Syntegra invests in Questel

2005-2009 Acquisitions

  • Specialized Patent Service, prior-art search services, USA
  • ThePatentPeople, prior-art search services, USA
  • Edital, online and offline trademark search service, Belgium
  • Digipat, file history provider, USA

2001 Spin-off

  • France Télécom Spin-off

1996 Launch Service

  • Qpat.com, first online patent search service ever developed

1978 France Télécom subsidiary

  • Télésystèmes, former name of Questel

Latest news

March 31st, 2022

Markify

Questel acquires Trademark search and watch specialist Markify
March 24, 2021

Morningside

Questel announces the acquisition of Morningside.

March 8, 2021

NovumIP

Questel to acquire NovumIP, a group comprised of Pavis and Novagraaf.

January 18, 2021

innosabi

Questel announces the acquisition of innosabi.
January 14, 2021

doeLEGAL

Questel announces the acquisition of doeLEGAL.
August 31, 2020

RenewalsDesk

Questel announces the acquisition of RenewalsDesk.
February 27, 2020

AboutInnovation.com

Questel announces the acquisition of AboutInnovation.com.
January 31, 2020

NRI Cyber Patent

Questel announces the acquisition of NRI Cyber Patent.

July 16, 2019

Direct Validation

Questel announces the acquisition of Direct Validation.
June 17, 2019

Yoomap

Questel acquires majority stake in Yoomap.
May 17, 2019

Brandstock

Questel acquires majority stake in Brandstock.
February 4, 2019

Concur IP

Questel acquires intellectual property services company Concur IP.
September 28, 2018

MultiLing

Questel acquires intellectual property translation leader MultiLing.
July 24, 2018

Expernova

Questel acquires Expernova and reinforces its offer for R&D departments.
October 15, 2017

ULT Research

Questel acquires ULT Research which will reinforce its presence in Japan.
February, 2017

ITIP

Questel invest in ITIP and becomes a leader in international filing.