Relevance & Importance of Patent Searches
Patent Information
According to WIPO Statistics:
- There are over 100 million patent documents
- Over 5 million patent applications are filed every year, resulting in the grant of more than half a million patents
- Two-thirds of the technical information revealed in patents is never published elsewhere
Technological Relevance
- Keep abreast with the latest technologies in your field – understand the state of the art technology
- Minimize research time & expense
- Avoid duplication of R&D work
- Identify research problems
- Identify alternative technology & develop new technical solutions, products or processes
- Get ideas for further innovation
Commercial Relevance
- Monitor competitors’ activities – Monitor the research and development of competitors in the market
- Find niche markets
- Locate business partners
- Identify suppliers and materials
Legal Relevance
- Avoid possible infringement problems – Facilitate infringement-free product development
- Assess patentability of your own inventions
- Oppose grant of patents found to be conflicting with your own patent(s)
Importance of Patent Search
For patent filing and prosecution:
- Examine similar patents/applications filed earlier
- Modify the invention to meet the patentability criteria
- Evaluate the strength of the invention/patent
- Facilitate patent examiners to determine the patentability of the invention
- Reduce cost and save time in the patent prosecution process – from the filing of an application to grant
Field With Hidden IP Rights
Working in the Field Without IP Searching and Mapping
Working in the Field With IP Searching and Mapping
