Patent Search
Patent Search is a challenging task many searchers choose to opt for in order to determine their legal rights. However, conducting these searches is challenging precisely because the processes involve multiple steps with which many searchers are not familiar. In contrast, our staff is well versed with the processes and searches. Our Patent service portfolio includes the following:
Patentability Search/Novelty Assessment
Decisions based on patent inventions become easy with our patentability search and analysis and a probability of a patent grant to your invention is ascertained. The process makes you identify the “derive factor” of your inventions in getting the patent grant, which will also make the process of drafting patent specification hassle-free. We are determined to reach a magnitude to protect your invention post patent grants.
Our numerous patent search strategies are also devised to identify patent documents that are relevant to the inventions & also an exhaustive prior art search is conducted in relevant databases which captures data from many countries. A detailed patentability analysis and expert opinion is also provided to you. Our successful patentability search and analysis are related to a wide arena of technology domains.
Our understanding of the patent laws makes our clients feel more confident and comfortable with our service. Patentability search report enables an Inventor(s) to:
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Modify the developing/developed invention appropriately based on existing prior art.
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Strategize invention claims so as to have a broader scope and protection for the invention at the time of filing patent application.
Freedom-to-Operate/Right to Use Search
‘Freedom-to-Operate’ is a study is to be conducted prior to the introduction of the invention in the market. It’s a hands-on support adopted to minimize patent risks. It’s an essential exercise to be mandatorily practiced by all the companies before introducing their invention to respective market.
Owing to our in-depth understanding of how patent documents are interpreted during infringement suits, we provide most perspective insights. We even carry out patent claim construction projects that help in gaining better understanding about the scope of patents that are relevant to a product/process freedom to operate, if necessary.
For any given technology, an in-depth knowledge of Freedom-to-Operate/Right to Use Search enables the clients to identify live patents for:
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Providing cross-licensing opportunities
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Avoiding potential infringement
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Exploring commercialization opportunities
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Obtaining protection in interested markets proactively
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Product Clearance
For any given patent invention/idea, a comprehensive patent and literature search to uncover any relevant prior art serves the clients in critical decision making. The search could include:
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Valuating patents
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Strategizing licensing agreements
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Countering any infringement litigation
Our validity search can serve a basis for:
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A legal opinion against infringement
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As a due-diligence prior to selling or license a patent
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Practice of technology without paying royalties, if invalidated
A patent invalidation search involves conducting a patent and non-patent literature search to identify prior art literature that might affect the validity of a granted patent.
Invalidity Searches serve as a defensive tool when infringing a particular patent. It attempts to uncover issued patents or other published prior art that may render a patent partially or completely invalid. In contrast, Validity Searches can also be used to invalidate an in-force patent thereby allowing a company to practice that technology without paying royalties to the firm that holds the rights to the patent in question. The goal of a validity search is to locate evidence that the patent claims were granted erroneously due to either oversight or concealment of the prior art during the examination process.
Infringement Searches are used to determine whether an enforceable patent claims the same matter as your concept or unpatented invention. Accordingly, the document set for these searches consists of only un-expired (enforce) patents.
The patent infringement search is needed prior to making, using, or selling a product or service where you might suspect the evidence of patented technology. Because of its heavy focus on claims, it is sometimes conducted prior to drafting claims in your own patent applications.
Prior to conducting search we work with our clients to establish the elements of the product that should be considered for infringement search. The relevant patents and corresponding claims that appear to infringe upon the clients invention are identified and a thorough quality assurance checking is done before the report is delivered to the client.
We provide infringement opinion and address the infringement search and analysis which are critical in determining whether a product/process violates their patent rights. The opinions provided by us relating to patent infringement are most reliable and we always use various doctrines established by courts to determine scope of certain claims. We provide optimum support by giving information on how patent documents are interpreted during infringement suits.
During developments and innovative study in particular technology, a Landscape Search enables clients to identify promising areas for investing time and develop innovative products/ designs. This report involves a comprehensive analysis of historic technological development and evolution. This reveals the technical advancements in a particular domain for over a period of time. Other services in Landscape Search include:
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Whitespace Analysis
Whitespace Analysis is an area wherein no or very less patenting activity occurs. Whitespace Analysis involves a study of patents obtained after a landscape study has been conducted. In addition, it involves identifying prior art problems with their solutions and representing them in matrix form. It helps to distinguish the areas of technology from the areas which could be explored for further research, development and innovation. This helps the clients to develop their business strategy and plan their investments in research and development. It can be used to map incremental innovation in products or services. White space has proved beneficial to companies who aspire high growth opportunities and who constantly seek exploration of strategic diversification. It helps the companies to broaden the scope of existing patents by locating spaces around patent positions which should in cases of probability be included in claim coverage.
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Typically, this type of search is executed to keep track on the competitors citing the active patents and to identify players involved in related technology. Citation Search can be used to assess patent value, determining licensing opportunities or evaluating IP strategy of companies.
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Product-to-Patent Search & Analysis
Products are typically covered by multiple patents. Product-to-Patent Search & Analysis will help retrieve the patents associated with its technologies. Such information enables clients to monitor and predict potential competing products capable of entering the market.
Patent Alerts are provided to keep an eye on worldwide patenting activity for related technologies. These alerts enable clients to monitor it’s competitor’s patenting activity, identify technical developments, monitor potential infringers/avoid potential infringement and identify licensing opportunities. These alerts include:
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Technology Alerts
We continuously keep our clients updated on all the latest patent submissions. By adopting this perfect strategy to capture all the required patent information, we make it easy for our clients to take decision on patent research by streamlining relevant information to patent search requirements. Such patent updates have a variety of applications, some of which are, taking decisions on filing pre-grant and post-grant oppositions and keeping track of developments in certain technology domains.
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Acumen keeps a track of developments made by competitors, predicting competitor’s future products and predicting competitor’s entry into newer markets. Acumen has the capabilities to monitor patent search data from most of the jurisdictions to enable and function more predominantly to keep you close enough with competitor’s patent submissions and patent grants. We recapitulate such details as per client requirements and regularly update it making it easily for you.
Portfolio Search and analysis involves, retrieving data pertaining to the entire IP assets of a particular company, its IP business transactions such as Mergers, Acquisitions, Licensing and Litigations; analyzing and highlighting critical data, which enable the clients to proceed with intelligent strategies.
Patent portfolio mapping involves managing an entire portfolio of patents of a particular competitor in different technological buckets. The buckets are identified based on background study and an in-depth study of patents. Patent portfolio management initially comprises of development of application strategies and a subsequent strategic filing of applications abroad.
Acumen Patent portfolio is helpful in
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Analyzing strong areas of our clients as well as their competitor’s portfolio.
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Identifying sellable technology in patents.
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Discovering the silent patents in your portfolio.
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Evaluating the technologies in your IP portfolio which could be developed into a product.
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Managing and reducing Intellectual Property Risks.
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Mapping competitor’s technological strategies and accordingly judging the efficiency of research/development and patenting processes.
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Benchmarking patent assets and market strengths.
We have a team of highly skilled and dedicated subject matter experts who go through the client’s patents and also its competitors build a taxonomy based on thorough patent study. The patents are then categorized according to the taxonomy and different patenting technology trends are mapped. Based on the trends and patent analysis, conclusions and key points are provided.