Patent search is a critical component of any patent application procedure. A patent search, IP search, novelty, or patentability search, is a process of looking through existing patents and publicly-available documents(also known as prior art) to find anything that might be identical or similar to the invention you wish to patent.

Patent search is often the first step in your patent filing process. Every patent application is scrutinized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to evaluate the originality and novelty of the claimed invention and rule out similarities with what might be already available in the prior art. The patent examiner needs to be certain that an invention is novel and non-obvious in order for it to be patentable.

The patent search gives you the advantage to identify the prior art that is closest to your invention so you can be sure of the patentability of the invention. And, by running a proper IP search, you also get to know which aspects of the invention are the most similar or different from the prior art.

By doing a patent search in the ideation phase, you can save time and costs on research and development. A right-to-use patent search helps you identify how likely your invention is to infringe on someone else’s patent. This is why IP searches are so critical for inventors.

While you can certainly perform an IP search on your own, the outcomes of a professionally done patent search can be far more comprehensive and detailed. At IPExcel, we give you an edge with a professional patent search that utilizes the best tools and techniques in the industry. Our team of patent and IP specialists are trusted by Fortune 500 companies and reputed MNCs. Our patent search is in-depth and involves looking beyond the obvious to give your patent application the best chance of success.