International Patent Search

Before filing a patent, reviewing earlier patents and patent applications is recommended to assess the novelty and patentability of an invention. Pre-filing preparations cost time and money. Some companies even start investing based on the assumption that the filing will grant. But an application that is not novel either fails to grant or ends up in litigation. That is why an international patent search is worth doing first, to get a general sense of whether your invention is novel.

There are several international patent search tools you can use for the initial search. International patent offices offer database access that makes the required information easier to reach. Organizations like WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization), EPO (the European Patent Office), and USPTO (the United States Patent and Trademark Office) are the main platforms for running patent searches. The international patent search links, where you can search by invention title, applicant, patent class, and other criteria, are listed below:

How to run an international patent search

Search report categories:

• X: document showing the invention is not novel and lacks inventive step.
• E: document published on or after the filing date.
• Y: document showing the invention lacks inventive step when combined with another document.
• A: document indicating the state of the art but not directly related to the invention.
• L: document cited for other reasons.
• O: non-written disclosure.
• D: document cited in the application.
• P: document published between the filing date and the priority date.
• &: document from the same patent family.

After a patent application is filed, the search report has to be requested within 18 months of the filing date or the priority date, and the related fee paid. The search report is issued by the patent office the application was filed with.

Our services at the international patent search stage

• Search report preparation: detailed search reports assess whether your patent application meets the novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability criteria.
• Examination and reporting: after the search report is issued, the application is examined and the steps required to secure the grant are taken.
• International filings: all work required for PCT (the Patent Cooperation Treaty) and other international patent filings, with our support at every stage.
• Registration and protection: once the patent is granted, the legal steps required to keep it protected are managed.

Sistem Patent supports international patent search and registration with our expertise and experience. To protect your inventions and reach commercial success, you can rely on us. To protect your ideas and start an international patent application, get in touch now.