7 Step Strategy for Preliminary Patent Searches

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The steps for discovering and assessing relevant prior art or any publication which reveals the invention for which a patent is to be filed are :-

  1. Brainstorming Terms
  2. Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
  3. Verifying Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)
  4. Retrieve and Review every patent application
  5. Detailed review of Patents
  6. Published Patent applications
  7. Broadening Preliminary Search

Brainstorming Terms

  • The first and the most significant step is to Brainstorm Terms which characterises the client’s invention.
  • Starting off by describing and examining in written form, the purpose, elements and use of invention. Carefully taking note of the crucial keywords and synonyms of words which describe the client’s invention.

Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)

  • The second step involves discovering relevant Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) through using the key terms and words which can be associated in the previous step from the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) Website Search Feature.
  • Proceed to the USPTO Home Page and enter “CPC scheme (key term describing the invention)” on the top right search box and further continue to scan the result which is obtained.

Verifying Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)

  • The third step involves verifying Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC); it requires previous step of evaluating the definitions. CPCs are hyperlinked to a CPC classification definition.
  • The definitions are crucial in establishing and determining that the client has made the most relevant classification.

Retrieve and Review every patent application

  • The fourth step involves retrieving and reviewing all the patent applications assigned to the appropriate CPC classification.
  • Emphasis on the abstract and representative drawings on the front page of the patent applications and sieve through the most relevant/applicable patent applications.

Detailed review of Patents

  • Further, the fifth step involves an extensive review of patents selected on the basis of their front page information for any similarity with the client’s own invention, paying detailed attention to the claims, additional drawings and specifications.
  • Any references cited in the earlier identified patents will lead to additional relevant patents.

Published Patent applications

  • In depth retrieving and reviewing of every published patent application within the Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) which are previously determined for similarity to the invention paying direct attention to the claims, drawings and specifications of the patent.

Broadening Preliminary Search

  • After finishing the preliminary search, the client can furthermore choose to widen the search based on available time and resource.
  • The client can broaden search by tracing International Patent Classification (IPCs), U.S. Patent Classification (USPC). The search can be rerun using Espacenet, IPIndia and WIPO.
  • The client can additionally choose search books, technical catalogues, journals, websites and conference proceedings; since inventions can be publicly revealed in various non patent literature and electronic publications.