Patent Searching

Background / Landscape Technology Searching

A background/landscape search provides an overall view of the state of art of a particular area of technology. This search can be useful in determining the scope of patent activity in a particular area of technology.

Prior Art / Novelty Searching

A prior art/novelty search identifies potential patent references which may be used as prior art when determining the novelty of an invention.

Validity / Invalidity Searching

A validity or invalidity search identifies potential patent references which may be utilised to question the validity of a patent claim or claims set.

Freedom-To-Operate / Infringement Searching

A freedom-to-operate or infringement search identifies potential granted patents or patent applications which may present a barrier to use or exploit a particular product or process.  This search-type is usually limited to a specific jurisdiction.

Applicant / Inventor Searching

An applicant search identifies patents and patent applications filed in a particular applicant name or patents and patent applications assigned to that applicant name.

An inventor search identifies the same as an applicant search with relation to an inventor name rather than an applicant name.

Foreign Family Searching

A foreign family search identifies counterpart local and foreign patents and patent applications that stem from the same initial/basic application.  In order to conduct this search, a patent number or patent application number is required.  Only index-published patents and patent application details can be searched.