Patentability Search
Prior art search to assess whether an invention is novel and non-obvious before filing a Patent application.
Search report with analysis
Patent Search & Analytics
Patent search and analytics services providing actionable intelligence for innovation strategy, Patent filing, and business decisions
Prior art searches, landscape analysis, FTO assessment, and patent intelligence.
Practice Overview
Patent searches form the foundation for informed decision-making across the innovation lifecycle, from early-stage R&D through commercialisation and enforcement.
The patent search and analytics practice provides comprehensive search services using commercial patent databases, free-to-access resources, and technical literature. Search reports are prepared by technically qualified analysts who understand both the technology and the strategic context of searches.
Services range from patentability searches for new inventions to landscape analyses for competitive intelligence, freedom-to-operate assessments for product launches, and invalidity searches for litigation support. Each search type is tailored to address specific business questions with appropriate depth and scope.
Reports include not just search results but analysis of findings with relevance assessments, claim charts where appropriate, and actionable recommendations. The practice emphasises quality of analysis over quantity of results.
Types of Patent Searches
Different search types addressing specific business and legal questions.
Freedom to Operate (FTO) Search
Search to identify patents that may be infringed by a product or process in target markets.
FTO search report
Invalidity Search
Comprehensive search for prior art to challenge validity of a patent in litigation or opposition proceedings.
Prior art report with claim mapping
Patent Landscape Analysis
Mapping of patent activity in a technology domain to understand competitive landscape and whitespace opportunities.
Landscape report with visualisations
State of the Art Search
Broad search to understand technological developments in a field, supporting R&D direction and strategy.
Technology overview report
Infringement Search
Search to identify products or companies potentially infringing a patent for enforcement purposes.
Infringement evidence report
Competitor Patent Monitoring
Ongoing tracking of Patent filings by specified competitors or in specified technology areas.
Periodic monitoring reports
Patent Portfolio Analysis
Assessment of Patent portfolio strength, gaps, and alignment with business strategy.
Portfolio assessment report
Search Methodology
Structured approach to patent searching ensuring comprehensive coverage and quality analysis.
Requirement Analysis
Understanding the technology, scope, target jurisdictions, and business context for the search.
Search Strategy
Developing keyword combinations, classification codes, and database selection for comprehensive coverage.
Database Search
Systematic search across patent databases and technical literature using defined strategy.
Relevance Screening
Review and filtering of search results to identify relevant references for detailed analysis.
Technical Analysis
Detailed review of relevant documents with claim analysis and feature mapping where required.
Report Preparation
Compilation of findings with analysis, visualisations, and recommendations in structured report format.
Requirement Analysis
Understanding the technology, scope, target jurisdictions, and business context for the search.
Search Strategy
Developing keyword combinations, classification codes, and database selection for comprehensive coverage.
Database Search
Systematic search across patent databases and technical literature using defined strategy.
Relevance Screening
Review and filtering of search results to identify relevant references for detailed analysis.
Technical Analysis
Detailed review of relevant documents with claim analysis and feature mapping where required.
Report Preparation
Compilation of findings with analysis, visualisations, and recommendations in structured report format.
Service Areas
Components of the patent search and analytics service offering.
Prior Art Searches
Searches to identify relevant prior art for various purposes.
- Patentability/novelty searches
- Freedom to operate searches
- Invalidity/opposition searches
- Design-around searches
- Patent family searches
Landscape & Intelligence
Strategic analysis of patent landscapes and competitive intelligence.
- Technology landscape mapping
- Competitive patent analysis
- Whitespace identification
- Trend analysis
- Key player identification
Monitoring Services
Ongoing tracking of patent activity relevant to clients.
- Competitor monitoring
- Technology area monitoring
- Citation monitoring
- Application status tracking
- New filing alerts
Portfolio Services
Analysis and assessment of Patent portfolios.
- Portfolio strength assessment
- Gap analysis
- Pruning recommendations
- Acquisition target identification
- Valuation support
Litigation Support
Search and analysis services for patent disputes.
- Invalidity prior art search
- Claim construction analysis
- File history review
- Prior art dating research
- Expert search support
Custom Analytics
Tailored analytics projects for specific business needs.
- M&A due diligence
- Technology assessment
- Inventor analysis
- Citation analysis
- Custom data extraction
Search Resources
Patent Databases
EspacenetUSPTO Patent Full-TextGoogle PatentsPatentscope (WIPO)Indian Patent OfficeEPO Open Patent ServicesLens.orgPatent Commons
Commercial Platforms
Orbit IntelligenceDerwent InnovationPatSnapInnographyTotalPatent
Database selection based on search requirements and client preferences.
Technology Domains
The practice has conducted patent searches across the following technology areas.
Aerospace & AviationAgriculture & AgriTechAI & Machine LearningAssistive TechnologiesAutomotiveAutonomous SystemsBattery TechnologiesBiotechnologyChemistry & MaterialsClean TechnologyConsumer ElectronicsCybersecurityData ScienceDigital HealthE-CommerceElectric VehiclesElectronicsEnergy StorageEntertainment & MediaFinTechFood TechnologyGreen EnergyHealthcare & MedicalInternet of ThingsIT & SoftwareManufacturingMechanical EngineeringMedical DevicesMobile TechnologiesNanotechnologyOnline PlatformsPersonal CarePharmaceuticalsRenewable EnergyRobotics & AutomationSemiconductorsSpace TechnologiesTelecommunicationsTraditional Medicine
Practice Characteristics
Aspects of the patent search and analytics practice.
Technical Expertise
Search analysts with technical qualifications in relevant fields who understand the technology being searched.
Comprehensive Coverage
Searches across multiple patent databases and non-patent literature to ensure thorough prior art coverage.
Strategic Context
Understanding of business context helps tailor searches to address the actual questions being asked.
Quality Analysis
Emphasis on analysis quality rather than result quantity, with relevance assessments and recommendations.
Structured Reporting
Clear, organised reports with executive summaries, detailed findings, and visualisations where appropriate.
Confidentiality
Strict protocols for handling confidential invention disclosures and competitive intelligence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about patent search and analytics services
A patentability search (also called novelty search or prior art search) identifies published documents that may affect patentability of an invention. The search covers patent databases and technical literature to find references disclosing features similar to the invention. Results help assess whether the invention is novel and non-obvious, and inform claim drafting strategy.
Freedom to operate analysis determines whether a product, process, or service can be made, used, or sold without infringing valid Patent claims of others. FTO search identifies relevant patents in target jurisdictions, followed by claim analysis to assess infringement risk. This is typically done before product launch, market entry, or significant investment.
Invalidity searches are typically conducted when:(1) facing a patent infringement allegation;(2) preparing for licensing negotiations;(3) filing a pre-grant or post-grant opposition; or(4) challenging a patent in litigation. The search seeks prior art that anticipates or renders obvious the claims of the target patent.
A patent landscape report typically includes:(1) overview of Patent filing trends over time;(2) identification of major patent holders;(3) technology area mapping;(4) geographic filing patterns;(5) whitespace analysis showing areas with limited patent activity;(6) key patent identification; and(7) visualisations such as patent maps and trend charts.
Timeline depends on search type and complexity. A standard patentability search typically takes 5-7 working days. FTO searches require 2-3 weeks due to claim analysis requirements. Landscape analyses may take 3-4 weeks depending on scope. Invalidity searches for litigation may require several weeks for comprehensive prior art coverage.
Searches use both free databases (Espacenet, USPTO, Google Patents, WIPO Patentscope, Indian Patent Office) and commercial databases (depending on requirements). Non-patent literature searches cover technical publications, conference papers, and product literature. Database selection depends on technology area and search purpose.
Search results undergo multiple stages of analysis:(1) relevance screening to filter results;(2) technical review of relevant documents;(3) feature mapping against search criteria;(4) claim analysis for FTO and invalidity searches; and(5) strategic assessment of findings with recommendations. Analysis is performed by technically qualified staff.
Patent monitoring is ongoing tracking of new Patent filings in specific technology areas or by specified competitors. It is useful for:(1) tracking competitor R&D activity;(2) identifying potential licensing opportunities;(3) early warning of potentially problematic patents; and(4) keeping R&D teams informed of developments in their field.
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