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Searches & advice, knowing where you stand

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What are searches & advice?

Before you invest, we set out the facts: is your idea new and patentable, and are you free to bring it to market? With preliminary searches, freedom-to-operate analyses and patent landscaping we give you a reasoned opinion on your position in relation to existing patent rights.

Please note

Your own disclosures count too. A presentation at a trade fair, an article in a trade journal or a product page on your website can destroy novelty and wipe out your chances of a patent. Look before you leap.

Mapping the patent landscape

Fig. 2 · Patent landscape n = 77 publications
WHITE SPACE free space High density Infringement risk

How to read the map: we plot existing patents by technology class and application. That way you see at a glance where the competition is crowding together, and where there is still free space for your own idea.

  • CompetitorAn existing patent or publication by a third party.
  • Infringement riskA dense cluster where you may not be free to operate.
  • White spaceAn unoccupied zone: an opportunity both to protect and to enter the market freely.

Illustrative model. A real landscaping report is based on patent databases and classification analysis, focused on your technology and market.

What we investigate

On filing, the official offices will subject your application to a novelty search in any event. A preliminary search anticipates the prior art citations that may come up.

Novelty search

A preliminary search (prior art search) that checks whether your invention meets the requirements of novelty and inventive step, the conditions for patentability. We check whether your solution has already been made public: in patents, published applications, scientific articles, technical documentation, websites or manuals, anywhere in the world.

Helps you to
  • assess the chances of a successful patent
  • avoid unnecessary costs for an application with little chance
  • adjust your invention or application in good time
  • gain insight into competitors and the prior art
ResultAdvice on patentability.

Freedom-to-operate (FTO)

A well-founded risk analysis assessing whether you can commercially develop, manufacture, use or sell a product, process or technology without infringing third-party patents. We identify the relevant patents and patent applications in the countries where you will be active, and interpret their scope of protection.

Helps you to
  • reduce the risk of costly patent disputes
  • take targeted measures to limit those risks
  • underpin investment decisions more soundly
  • bring a product to market better informed
  • recognise licensing or partnership opportunities in good time
ResultA well-founded infringement risk opinion.

Patent landscaping

A systematic analysis of the patent landscape within a technological field. Where an FTO analysis looks at the infringement risk for one specific product or process, landscaping is strategic: it maps existing patents, technological developments, players and innovation trends.

Gives insight into
  • who the main players within a technology are
  • the geographical spread and protection per country
  • which innovation trends are emerging
  • where the opportunities lie for research and product development
  • which technologies are heavily protected
  • where the white spaces lie: areas with little or no patent protection
ResultA map of the playing field with the free space.
Also possible
  • Competitor monitoring (watch)
  • Opinion on scope of protection & validity
  • IP due diligence

How a search proceeds

  1. Step 01

    Scoping

    Together we define the question, the technology and the relevant markets and countries.

  2. Step 02

    Search strategy

    We determine the right classifications (CPC/IPC), search terms and databases.

  3. Step 03

    Searching & screening

    Searching patent databases and publications and filtering out the relevant documents.

  4. Step 04

    Analysis

    Reading and assessing claims: novelty for a preliminary search, infringement risk for an FTO.

  5. Step 05

    Report & opinion

    A clear report: free, at risk, or advice on designing around existing rights.

  6. Step 06

    Follow-up

    Optionally we monitor new publications by competitors for you (watch).

We match the depth to your question: novelty, freedom-to-operate or landscaping.

Have your idea assessed.

An introductory call is confidential and without obligation. As a patent attorney we are bound by professional secrecy.

Schedule an introductory call →