The Patent Search is widely known as prior art search. Prior art plays a significant role in determining the patentability of any invention.
It is a common mistake to think that prior art is limited to either existing products or granted patents. Moreover, the applied patents are taken into consideration as prior art.
But the periphery of the information that counts as prior art is beyond the granted patents or the existence of any product. In general, the prior art relates to an idea available in public or a patent application which is published or a patent is being granted.
For example, the prior art can be:
Before filing a patent, the prior art search is necessary. The benefits of the prior art search are as follows:
It can be followed through different data bases available online under various methods, such as:
Patents searchto be followed on the basis of key words associated with the invention.
The search through Google Patents, USPTO Patent Search, Espace European Patent Office search, WIPO patent search and Patent Lens.
The search can be done through Google Scholar, various technical literatures (printed or on-line), Amazon or any commercial site.