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3 Replies Last post: Feb 27, 2008 3:37 PM by Fact_Finder

Patent research - how to do it for free?

Jan 21, 2008 9:38 AM

Click to view devaney's profile Mogul devaney 34 posts since
Jan 21, 2008

I have a few product ideas and would like to find out if it is already patent. How can I do research this on the web for FREE? Does anyone have any website suggestions?
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,938 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
1. Re: Patent research - how to do it for free? Jan 21, 2008 10:20 AM
You should search prior patents and publications at the earliest
possible opportunity. Practitioners refer to this as a "novelty"
search. The primary reason for this is to avoid the futility and cost
of filing a patent application on an invention that someone else has
already patented. In addition, a search decreases the chances that you
will inadvertently infringe someone else's patent Still another reason for the search
is to obtain information about the state of the art of the technical
field of the invention which you may use to improve the invention and
increase it's marketability.
LUCKIEST
Click to view CEO Space's profile Mogul CEO Space 271 posts since
Jan 13, 2008
2. Re: Patent research - how to do it for free? Jan 21, 2008 10:28 AM
Devaney,

Welcome to the forum.

Here is the official US patent office site.

http://www.uspto.gov/

You can do your own preliminary search there. Search your idea in as many different ways as you can.

This is a good start. You will however need to get an attorney eventually. And as with everything,
all attorneys are not created equal.

We have many high level patent attorneys in our network.

What is amazing and most people don't know, is that for what it would probably cost you to hire
all the professionals you need, attorneys, patents, business plans, etc. You can get access to
in our network for a one time fee.

Sorry for the plug, but I've just seen so many people spend much more than they needed to for lesser results.

Good luck,

Kathy
Click to view Fact_Finder's profile Mogul Fact_Finder 38 posts since
Feb 27, 2008
3. Re: Patent research - how to do it for free? Feb 27, 2008 3:37 PM
The USPTO site does a good job of hiding the ball in terms of locating all of their information.

See these direct URLs:

http://www.uspto.gov/main/patents.htm
http://www.inta.org