Patentability Search & Opinion:

For a client that wants to know what patents or publications (known as prior art) are already out in the public. This helps answer the basic question of novelty: “Is my invention or improvement really new?”

How Bold Patents Does PS&Os:

We take these utility patent searches very seriously, as the outcome is usually what provides the basis for a major financial and business decision: whether to file for a patent application. Our team scrutinizes the public databases on the USPTO, Free Patents Online, Google among other proprietary search databases that are connected into the patent information system to gather the very closest prior art to the proposed invention. We then provide an analysis of each prior art patent record with the client’s invention and detail out the key differences. Lastly, we provide a summary opinion which helps answer the big question of whether to file and secondly, what the potential scope of the patent rights might be given the prior art found in the report.

What questions does a Patentability Analysis answer?

  1. What are the chances of a specific invention being granted a patent?
  2. What specific claims are most likely to be patentable?

Who needs a Patentability Analysis?

  1. An inventor wanting to patent an invention
  2. An investor looking to invest in a company commercializing an invention.

Anyone who wants to patent an invention can benefit from a patentability analysis as explained in more detail below. As inventors in the process of patenting an invention can be confused about the breath of the patent they are likely to receive anyone considering investing in a technology in the process of being patented should commission an independent patentability analysis.

What It Is: A Patentability Analysis attempts to predict the possibility of a patent being granted. Only inventions the patent office deems novel and non-obvious are granted patents. To be novel no current or past technology can have all the aspects of the technology being considered. To be non-obvious an invention must not be obvious to those of skill in the appropriate art. Both are complicated legal standards that are applied differently for different inventions. The non-obviousness standard is particularly complicated. In a patentability analysis a patent lawyer compares the invention to patents granted and published up to the present day. Using the prior art the patent lawyer does an analysis similar to that done by the patent office comparing the current invention to the prior art. This way the patent attorney can (1) determine the likelihood of a patent being granted, and (2) claim around the already written patents. The second benefit is especially important for cost conscious clients. Every interaction with the patent office costs money. By writing claims that are more likely to be accepted early you can limit the interactions with the patent office and the cost of patenting. Knowledge is power. With a patentability analysis you can boldly patent your invention knowing you are likely not wasting your time or your money.

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Download a Bold example of a Patent Search and Opinion to see how much time and effort we put into a project from the very beginning.

Does my invention even qualify?

Timeline and expectations for patentability analysis.

Portfolio Analysis

Bold Patents works with your businesses to gain an understanding of the strategic business goals and prepares an in depth market-centric analysis of your current patents and pending applications to identify which patents and publications should be maintained, reworked or abandoned. Further, the analysis will identify opportunities for innovation and areas which represent a gap in technology that is necessary to achieve the short or long term business goals.

Invention Harvesting

Our team will come on-site to your business where your research and development team works to do a 1, 2 or 3 day “invention harvesting” workshop. The workshop begins by developing a set of “technology gaps” between the present day and where the company is going 3-5 years down the road. Making Bold Leaps to close the technology gaps will be accomplished through either invention or protection via trade secrets.

Landscape Report & Analysis

The objective of a Landscape study in a particular technology domain/market area is to provide analysis of existing knowledge on that specific technology and to indicate empty spaces (where there is either an unmet need or a unsolved problem).

Evidence of Use Charts & Analysis

Evidence of Use (EoU) helps patent owners identify potentially infringing products in the marketplace. Our EoU charts patent claim elements to specific features of identified products and services, and provides an indication of the strength of patent infringement assertion.

Get Started With a Discovery CallWHY HAVE AN ATTORNEY DO A PATENT SEARCH

No Search Pro Search Patent Attorney Search
Does Your Invention have the Requirements for Patenting? (Eligibility, Novelty, Nonobviousness, Utility) Unknown: There has been no search performed at all Unclear: The results are only partial and not thorough Confirmed: Complete, world-wide search including non-patent literature
Strength of Your Patent Application? Weakest: Surface level, no reference points, does not cover areas of novelty in detail Weaker: Lacking in detail, reference guessing, surface level Strong Patent Application: all reference points and differentiators with clear direction
Your Time? Very High Risk to missing obvioius prior art Your time spent searching instead of building a business or planning; high Risk to missing prior art Time spent building your business, learning about competitors and adapting; Very Low risk to Missing prior art
Your Money? Waste of money spent on patent application and fees Waste of money spent on patent application and fees Money well invested in doing the right thing
Legal Analysis? None None Includes Legal Analysis
Legal Opinion? None None Includes Legal Opinion
Consulting/Advising? None None Full access to Patent Attorney who will be Dedicated to your case

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