All You Need to Know About Patent Searches and Patent Search Tools
A patent search tells you whether pursuing a patent on your invention is a wise step. If you discover that a similar invention has already been patented, you can shelve your plan and explore another path. Perhaps you can add features that will improve your product and make it unique, hence increasing its patentability.
In any case, a professional patent searcher can do the task for you, but note that this usually comes at a high cost. On the other hand, there are several tools available that can help you run a search yourself.
Patent search tools help you do a patent search more effectively and can even offer insights about what your competitors are developing. This software is made specifically for searching not only current patents but also applications and inventions which are yet unpatented at the moment.
Free vs. Paid Software
There are many kinds of patent search tools today but you can mainly categorize them as free and paid.
The free ones are a good way to get started, but the problem is you won’t have someone to contact in case you run into issues. Free tools may also not be updated, so the accuracy of your results cannot be guaranteed. If you don’t want to compromise on accuracy, you should consider investing in some paid tools.
Google Patent Search
The best advantage to searching patents with Google is that you receive your results rather fast. However, you may find that search features are not equally advanced as the paid tools come with. Another drawback is that you may miss certain patents with Google – newer ones specifically. But it remains incredibly helpful when it comes to finding much older pieces of information.
Tips for Doing Patent Searches
> Don’t just stick to basic keyword searches. Make use of the advanced options and the specification field.
> Begin your search with broad terms, narrowing down as you go.
> Use a variety of keywords. There can be so many patent descriptions of similar inventions.
> Go through search results very patiently. Some will be relevant and others not.
> Keep track of what you find. You should have a file where you mark anything that’s interesting.
> If you want to hire a professional patent service anyway, do it once you’ve wrapped up with your preliminary search. This means less time for them to work and, therefore, less cost.
Patent searching isn’t rocket science, but it can consume a lot of time, especially if you haven’t done it before. Using the right software helps you do the task with greater efficiency.