Patent searches and FTO
The importance of a patent search can hardly be overestimated. We search relevant information worldwide in different fields of art, providing our clients with high quality screening and analysis of patent and non-patent references. Our searches are performed by patent experts with specialist knowledge in various technical fields and extensive experience in patent research, which is an extremely important step to prevent refusal decisions on patent applications and infringement of third-parties’ rights.
Covers expired and non-expired patents, patent applications, and non-patent literature on a given technology over a given time period.
Covers expired and non-expired patents and patent applications on a given active substance and pharmaceutical forms thereof.
Covers expired and non-expired patents, patent applications, and non-patent literature relevant to the particular claims of the patent in question.
Covers non-expired patents including those in force, those which have lapsed but can be restored, and patent applications that may mature into a patent that could bar the technology or patent in question from use and Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) analysis and opinion.
Conducted in Russia, Eurasia, Ukraine and other CIS-countries.
Looks for members of a certain patent family in another country.
Patent databases
Most of our searches are performed online using specialised patent databases, but we also use a wide variety of other technical non-patent databases. Databases searched include:
We search all patent applications/patents related to the subject matter of the search (the results are presented in the form of a table including key words, number of references, list of references);
We search non-patent references related to the subject matter of the search (the results of the search are presented in a table including bibliographic data and abstract);
We screen related patent applications/patents obtained as result of the search (references found at stages 1 & 2 are sorted by subject matter and degree of relevancy);
We perform a comparative analysis and present a written opinion appropriate to the search type, for example:
- Invalidity opinion and grounds for opposition
- Freedom-to-operate opinion
- Prior art search