Generally, patent searches are performed to investigate the patentability of the inventor’s invention, relative to the records available at the USPTO.
The search is conducted concerning the functional and design features of inventor’s invention, including identifying and searching the proper patent classification and subclasses. The patentability search should focus on the patents that are most relevant to inventor’s innovation and expanded outwards in class and backwards in time.
Patent searches conducted by The Law Firm of P. Jeffrey Martin, LLC are not a CD-Rom or an Internet search, but rather, a professional patentability search which includes an analysis of cited patents and an Opinion of Patentability by a Registered Patent Attorney. Any Patent Search without an opinion and a signature is worthless.
Importantly, incomplete or cursory patent searches can provide inaccurate results resulting in non-patentable subject matter and possibly patent infringement. Many invention promotion companies fail to conduct complete searches, i.e., identifying and searching the proper patent classification and subclasses.
A patent search should be performed before considering the filing of a patent application.