A discussion of patent information notes that 'Put simply, the problem is this: Basic patent data are now available for free, and the market for value-added information is saturated.' Topics covered are pressures on commercial revenues; product development; cost burden; and niche markets. Bob Stembridge of Thomson Scientific believes that the patent information industry is healthy and interesting for customers and service providers. For users, there are many services available, including commercial offerings and those from the public sector. For providers, advances in technology increase opportunities to reduce production costs and move into new and wider markets. Patenting is on the rise, but making money from sales of patent information is another issue, and questions remain as the effects of patent and trademark offices' (PTOs') increasing role in distribution of patent information free-of-charge or at negligible cost. The effects might be 'a bad case of disintermediation blues.' The efforts of information providers to tame the market are described. For instance, MicroPatent has purchased direct rivals and has also acquired other intellectual property (IP) providers. Thomson was unsuccessful with patent Explorer, and acquired Delphion, which allows Thomson to integrate a global full-text patent research, analysis, and delivery platform into a group of value-added information solutions. Thomson is also working on portals, including one for the life sciences market, and has recently debuted Derwent World Patents Index First View, which makes patents available to users faster.