Patentability Search: Securing the Novelty of Innovation

Innovation is at the heart of economic growth and technological advancement. The ability to develop new ideas and products is a critical driver of success in today’s competitive marketplace. However, with the proliferation of new ideas and inventions, it is important to ensure that these innovations are legally protected from infringement by competitors. This is where patentability searches come into play. A patentability search is a crucial step in securing the novelty of an innovation. It can help determine whether an idea or product has already been patented, which can save time and money in the long run. Furthermore, it can provide valuable insights into the potential success of an invention in the marketplace by assessing its commercial viability. 

In this blog post, we will discuss the significance of patentability searches and why they are an essential part of the innovation process. 

What is a Patentability Search? 

A patentability search, also known as a novelty search or a prior art search, is a type of search performed to determine whether an invention or idea is eligible for patent protection. 

During a patentability search, the patent search professional searches for prior art, which is any publicly available information that might be relevant to the invention or idea, such as patents, technical reports, scientific articles, and other publications. The investigation is carried out to determine whether the invention or idea is novel, non-obvious, and useful, which are the three basic requirements for obtaining a patent. 

The search’s goal is to determine the novelty and non-obviousness of the invention or idea in question, as well as to identify any potential barriers to obtaining a patent. This information can be used by the inventor or patent attorney to assess the likelihood of obtaining a patent and, if necessary, adjust the claims of the patent application to boost its chances of being granted. 

Securing the Novelty of Invention 

For securing the novelty of an invention, a patent search professional or patent attorney typically performs the following steps:

1. Conducting a thorough prior art search: The first step is to conduct a thorough prior art search, which may include patents, technical reports, scientific articles, and other publications that could be relevant to the invention.
2. Identifying the invention’s key features: The next step is to identify the invention’s key features. This entails thoroughly inspecting the invention to determine what distinguishes it from existing products or technologies.
3. Comparing the invention to the prior art: The next step is to compare the invention’s key features to those of the prior art. This entails examining the invention for similarities and differences with existing products or technologies.
4. Determining the level of similarity: The patent search professional or attorney determines the level of similarity between the invention and the prior art based on the comparison. It may not be considered novel if the invention is identical to or very similar to existing products or technologies.
5. Assessing the scope of the invention: Finally, the patent search professional or attorney evaluates the scope of the invention. This includes determining the breadth of the invention’s claims and assessing how they compare to the prior art. If the claims are too broad or vague, they may be considered invalid or not novel.

Overall, analyzing the novelty of an invention requires a careful and detailed examination of the prior art and the key features of the invention. It is a difficult process that necessitates a thorough understanding of patent law as well as the specific technical field in which the invention is being considered. 

Identifying Prior Art and Existing Patents 

To identify prior art and existing patents, inventors use a variety of search tools and techniques. Here are a few of the most common approaches:

1. Patent Databases

Patent databases such as the USPTO and EPO database are a key source of prior art and existing patents. Users can search these databases for patents using a variety of criteria, including keywords, inventor names, and patent numbers. Users can also search the proprietary database of XLSCOUT. With 150 million+ patents and 200 million+ research publications, XLSCOUT is the world’s largest AI-enabled technology database.

2. Non-patent Literature Databases

In addition to patent databases, non-patent literature databases, such as technical reports, scientific articles, and conference proceedings, exist. These databases can help you find prior art that isn’t covered by a patent.

3. Search Engines

General search engines, such as Google, Novelty Checker, etc., can also be used to search prior art and existing patents. Patent search professionals and attorneys can frequently uncover relevant information by using particular search terms and advanced search techniques.

4. Classification Systems

Patent classification systems, such as the CPC/IPC, provide a standardized method of organizing and categorizing patents and prior art. Patent searchers can quickly determine relevant patents and prior art by searching for patents in specific IPC classes.

5. Patent Search Tools/Firms

Patent search tools can be used, or patent search firms can be hired to conduct a comprehensive search. They provide a report on their findings for more complex patent searches or searches in specialized technical fields.

Key Considerations for Conducting a Patentability Search 

Consider the following when conducting a patentability search for securing the novelty of an invention:

1. Scope of the search: The scope of the search must be carefully defined according to the particular invention and the technical field into which it falls. The search should encompass all relevant prior art, including existing patents, technical reports, scientific articles, and other publications.
2. Search strategy: The search strategy should indeed be carefully planned and carried out to ensure that all relevant prior art is identified. This involves using a combination of search tools and techniques, such as patent databases, non-patent literature databases, and search engines.
3. Timing: The timing of the search is critical. To avoid potential issues with prior art, it is normally recommended that a patentability search be conducted as soon as possible in the patent application process.
4. Competitor analysis: It is essential to consider the competitive landscape and identify any potential competitors who might have similar or related inventions. This can assist in informing the search strategy and identifying any potential barriers to obtaining a patent.
5. Legal analysis: One should legally analyze the search results to determine whether the invention meets the patentability criteria.

In general, conducting a patentability search requires a thorough and strategic approach for securing the novelty of the invention.

Conclusion 

Innovation is essential to progress, and securing the novelty of an invention is critical to protecting the interests of inventors. A patentability search is an essential tool for ensuring that an invention meets the patentability requirements. Patent search professionals and attorneys can assist inventors in identifying potential barriers to obtaining a patent, adjusting their claims to improve their chances of success, and protecting their intellectual property by conducting a thorough search for prior art and carefully analyzing the results. Finally, the patentability search is an important step in the innovation process. Because protecting the most novel and impactful ideas can contribute to societal progress.

Our Methodology 

The Novelty Checker makes prior art searches easier for inventors. The tool searches for similar inventions to yours to determine whether a patent is feasible.    

A step-by-step guide to conducting an AI-powered patentability search with Novelty Checker can be accessed by clicking here.   

XLSCOUT put the use of reinforcement learning to its AI-based Novelty Checker (patent searching tool) to get quality prior art search reports in just 5 minutes. The Novelty Checker uses reinforcement learning to filter the noise by showing the relevant results on top of the list. To be precise, it assists in conducting patentability search to help you ensure that your innovation is unique. By selecting a few relevant and non-relevant results, users can apply them to the result set. The system takes the user’s feedback and then learns from it. It uses conceptual searching and re-ranks the results by bringing the quality results to the top and sending the noise to the bottom.       

Without reinforcement learning, users go through hundreds of results manually. By applying this process, users can skip going through the non-relevant results. Users can apply reinforcement multiple times to a result set based on their various requirements and criteria.  They can then view the Top-10 or Top-20 results for each criterion to perform a prior-art analysis for idea validation. Users can quickly generate an automated novelty report by selecting these Top-10 or 20 results.