Patent Searching
John B. Edel
Baton Rouge Patent Attorney
As a former patent examiner John has patent search experience.
Search Master
Losing golf balls is one of John’s hobbies, so search never gets old.
Visit John’s bio page.
The easiest patent search:
(1) Go to patents.google.com, (2) type in three features of your invention, and (3) click enter. Then scroll through the results to see if your invention is new.
Patent searching is cheaper
Would you spend an hour to save $15,000? Would you spend $1000 to save $8,000? The cost-benefit of searching can be that stark. If a short search shows you that your invention is not new your savings can be immense.
Think before you search
A good search plan may be the difference between success and failure. Three things that can make your search better:
- Brainstorm
- Organize
- Strategy
My Brainstorming Patent Search Ideas worksheet can help with the brainstorming.
Three easy options for patent searching
1. Client searching
2. Attorney search
3. Third-party search
Patent searching is always beneficial
Expect a benefit when you patent search.
- If you find your invention stop.
- If you find something close to your invention, you gained critical information.
- If you don’t find anything close you have a signal that your invention may be new.
Google Patents
Google patents is easy. Google patents is also a powerful search tool. Google patents lets you choose between a simple search and advanced search. The simple search option acts much like regular Google. The advanced search provides powerful options in a friendly user interface.
Patent searching improves your application
Knowing the closest reference will get you a much better patent application. With the closest reference, an attorney can focus on what makes your invention patentable. That focus can be the difference between getting a patent is not getting one.
An examiner’s view of patentability
The patent examiner your application is going to be a reference as the primary reference. He or she will use that reference to judge your application. If your application is like the primary reference, rejections are easy. You want your application to teach the many ways your invention is different. If your application teaches how your invention is different, your chances are better.
The moral of the story: try to find the primary reference for you to file a patent application.