Patent searching is a skill that is only acquired with experience. Our patent search strategy is cutting-edge in that we don't rely on just one or two search methods and databases. We use a comprehensive set of search tools applied on multiple databases to milk out the last possible patent that possibly can result as a prior-art. A patent search has the following components:
We provide a detailed report that provides a comprehensive overview of the state of prior-art. The report does not simply give you a stack of unrelated patents but only those that are most related to the invention. Hence, we ensure that we have understood our client's invention before doing any search.
A Patent Validity Search or Patent Invalidity Search is the process of making an exhaustive Prior Art Search conducted after patent issuance. The former aims to validate the enforceability of a patent's claims while the latter aims to invalidate one or more claims of a patent. In the event of a patent infringement, proof of invalidity based on prior art is the first line of defense. The components of this search are:
A patent office may have issued a patent by overlooking the best prior art since they are allocated an average of 12 hours per prosecution case. Hence, a more detailed invalidation search could possibly reveal a prior art that can counter a patent claim.
This is also known as product clearance search, which aims to determine whether any claims within "in-force" patents are being infringed. The search is conducted to aid companies make informed R&D; investments during product development since some features might infringe claims within "in-force" patents. This search does not require analysis of expired patents and non-patent literature. An infringement search has the following components:
The infringement search helps make appropriate business decision. In the event of an infringement one may perform the following:
The Freedom to Operate Search is an extension of a Patent Infringement Search. It aims to determine the jurisdictions in the world where a technology may be used or protected. A patent that blocks introduction of a product in one country may not have a counterpart patent in another jurisdiction where there is commercially viability. A FTO search has the following components:
Appropriate timing to conduct FTO search is required during product development since too early a search could prove useless when the final product has undergone many changes. Too late a search could also result in wasted R&D; expenditures if infringement is found.
This is also known as State of the Art Patent Search and is designed to research progress in a specific technical field in the broadest and most general form of all patent searches. This is a form of market survey that takes stock of everything that has already been done in a given art. Landscape analysis helps in the following ways:
We provide a detailed report that provides a comprehensive overview of the state of art.
Patent Portfolio Assessment Reports help businesses make cost-effective and timely evaluations of the strength, quality and position of portfolios. Relative position within an immediate and extended patent landscape, including insights into patent family investments and age of the patent/technology, helps in identifying licensing opportunities. Typical uses of portfolio assessment are:
Claim charts help in analyzing infringement of claims in a patent in a more detailed manner. Claim charts can help determine the extent of overlap between one or more claims of a patent and a product or technology.
Competitive Intelligence (CI) aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of competitors, suppliers and product innovations in varied regions across the world. CI is the legal and systematic collection and analysis of information about the strengths, weaknesses, and future intentions of competitors. The patent portfolio trail is analyzed to identify the following: