There are various types of searches commonly carried out in relation to patents, depending on the circumstances. Two common types of search are known as a novelty search and an infringement search.

A novelty patent search is appropriate to assess whether an invention is patentable. Such a patent search generally reviews published patent applications and registered patents in databases containing records from many different countries. Any published information, no matter how old, may be relevant in most cases to the question of whether an invention is patentable.

An infringement patent search is for assessing whether anyone else has patent rights that are or may be in force and which may give rise to infringement risks if our client proceeds to use or commercially exploit the invention. Such a patent search can be very useful, for example if our client is about to invest large sums in a production process, manufacturing equipment and do on, but wishes to check beforehand whether the production or manufacturing process will infringe someone else's rights.

A novelty or infringement patent search is usually carried out using a combination of carefully selected keywords and classifications according to various classification systems.

There are other types of patent search which may be useful in different circumstances. For example, it is possible to carry out a name search to assess whether one or more particular people or companies have patents, or whether a particular person is listed as an inventor in relation to a patented invention.

Whether to carry out a patent search and the type of patent search to carry out may depend on a number of different factors, and we can advise you about this, and we can give a cost estimate in most cases.

Please call us or email us to enquire about an obligation-free initial discussion or cost estimate for your matter. All communications are treated in absolute confidence. Click here for our contact details.