So you have an idea for an invention – but is it patentable? A patentability search of existing filed patents will help you determine this.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) patent search engine is the first stop for determining the patentability of an invention. Performing a patent search draws on the patent claims, the description of the invention, and the diagrams of existing patents to determine whether the inventor’s new patent is unique compared to the existing patents, or the ‘prior art’. Experience with patents and the USPTO helps a patent searcher to identify those unique qualities qualify the invention for patent filing.

While possible to look up patents on your own, experienced patent search firms know how to find patents that might disqualify your patent without you realizing it. An informed patent analysis will also help you realize that many existing inventions do not, actually, disqualify your idea. Trying to patent it yourself risks losing a possibly valuable patent or pursuing a costly application without having a patentable product.

Interested in getting a search on a patent idea? Call (908) 879-0091 for a free 15-minute patent consultation.