probably notCompleting a patent search is a common part of the patent application process. But this would lead any inventor to a few questions. Why should you do a patent search? And how to do a patent search? Look no further for the answers.
Why Conduct a Patent Search
There are really two reasons to perform a patent search, and done repetitively throughout the patent application process. The standard internationally for making pending patent applications public to search is at least 18 months from the filing date. This means that when you do a patent search there are a large number of patent applications that have not been made available yet.
The second reason why to do a patent search is so that you don’t waste your time. If someone else has a patent on your exact idea that is active for another ten years, then the expense and time of the patent application process might be a bad plan for that idea. Another reason of why to do a patent search is that you can use a combination of keywords, numbers, and expressions that would take dozens of searches otherwise. It is very well described in this article – https://www.iedunote.com/just-starting-out-as-an-inventor-inventhelp-is-everything-you-need.
Where Can You Conduct a Patent Search
One of the easiest places to perform a patent search is with Google Patent Search. This is a very general patent search using only general keywords, but will give you an idea of whether a patent exists or now. In this basic patent search, you come up with something that resembles your idea all you need to do is note down the patent number. Then head to the US Patent & Trademark Office to locate that patent in full detail. When finding out where to do a patent search you will find many options, you just need to pick one.
How to Conduct A Patent Search
All you need to do for a patent search is locate the service and enter as many or as few keywords as you want. This will take you to any possible matches, and you can sort out if any of them fit your idea. Once you click on an idea from the patent search results, it will take you to a page with the title, abstract description and application date. If you feel it’s a good match, you can click on it for further details.
If any of these ideas are relevant to yours, its time for the professional opinion of a patent expert, such as Invent Help patent agency. This is how to perform a patent search, but it is always better to hire a professional patenting agency such as InventHelp. Keep in mind that if you don’t do one yourself, you run the risk of a patent examiner discovering something in the middle of the patent application process, and the filing fees are non-refundable.
