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History
About Questel

History

From 1978 to today: Building a global leader
Since 1978
From 250 to 1,500 employees
in the past 5 years

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.

From 250 to 1,500 employees<br>in the past 5 years
Our Story
2023

Product Launch

  • Unitary Patent Opt-out Services  Discover
  • Equinox Corporate +  Discover
  • Equinox Brand Proposal  Discover
  • Trademark Analyst-Driven-Search  Discover
  • Innosabi Projects
2022

Acquisitions

  • Equinox – IP management system provider, United-Kingdom Press release
  • Markify – Trademark search and watch specialist, Sweden Press release

Strategic Partnerships

Product Launch

  • Markify Brand Monitor  Discover
  • Prosecution Pack (Orbit Intelligence Add-on) Discover
  • AI-Classifier (Orbit Intelligence Add-on)  Discover
2021

Acquisitions

  • doeLEGAL - Enterprise Legal management software, USA Press release
  • innosabi - Innovation management software, Germany  Press release 
  • Morningside - Leading IP and language services company, USA Press release 
  • Novagraaf - Legal & Consulting, Netherland  Press release 
  • Pavis - Patent Annuities Management, Germany  Press release

Product Launch

  • IP Services Portal 
2020

LBO 4

  • Eurazeo invests in Questel

Acquisitions

  • NRI Cyber Patent - IP analytics, intellectual asset management, Japan Press release
  • AboutInnovation - Intellectual asset management software, France Press release
  • RenewalsDesk - Patent annuity services, UK Press release

Product Launch

2019

Acquisitions

  • Direct Validation - EP validation services, Sweden Press release 
  • Yoomap - Open innovation software, France Press release 
  • Brandstock - Intellectual property software and service, Germany Press release
  • Concur IP - Intellectual property services, India Press release

Product Launch

2018

LBO 3

  • IK Investment Partners invests in Questel

Acquisitions

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

Product Launch

2017

Acquisitions

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

Product Launch

  • Chemistry (Orbit Intelligence add-on)   Discover
2016

Product Launch

  • Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) software suite Discover
2015

LBO 2

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

Acquisitions

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

Product Launch

2014

Product Launch

  • Orbit IP Business Intelligence   Discover
2012

Acquisition

  • Executive IP, video-based Corporate Trainings, USA   Discover
2010

Product Launch

  • 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

Product Launch

  • Qpat.com, first online patent search service ever developed
1978

France Télécom subsidiary

  • Télésystèmes, former name of Questel