Global patent search services follow a comprehensive, in-depth process to uncover international intellectual property (IP). Worldwide patent search reports provide a reliable way to find, evaluate, and monitor IP published across the globe. Experienced patent search attorneys employ a strategic approach to construct country-specific findings, organize analytics, and deliver up-to-date insights. If you are considering global protection for your novel invention, an international patent search is a necessary first step. Read on to learn how global patent search services find international IP.

Perform International Patent Classification (IPC)

Before the global IP search process begins, your attorney will perform international patent classification. IPC helps organize, structure, classify, and categorize intellectual property across the globe. A majority of worldwide patent authorities use this classification process to facilitate IP searches – regardless of cultural barriers or linguistic differences. This level of analysis can make the end-to-end foreign IP search process smoother and more efficient. After all, IPC keeps you informed on market competition, industry developments, and your own patent application. Surely, attorneys use IPC to find intellectual property worldwide during global patent searches.

Scan US Patent Databases

Next, your global patent search attorney will carefully scan US IP databases. Traditionally, IP lawyers start with official full-text databases from the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Here, they can uncover invention images and associated PDF documents. Google's basic and advanced search tools can also help discover pending and issued patent applications. Your attorney may additionally use advanced database platforms to evaluate relevant research literature, engineering studies, and bibliographic findings. Indeed, global patent search firms thoroughly scan US databases to uncover foreign intellectual property holdings.  

Search International Patent Offices

After scanning domestically, global patent search companies next look for comparable prior art references internationally. Searchable databases from foreign IP offices give inventors a better sense of your patentability overseas. Your attorney will likely start their search with the European Patent Office (EPO), which provides a comprehensive network of intellectual property across the EU. Depending on your prosecution goals, they'll additionally scan offices in Canada, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, India, and Taiwan. For a comprehensive list of IP results and machine translated documents, the best attorneys additionally search with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Absolutely, global patent search services scan internationally to uncover foreign IP.

Review The Global Dossier

At this point, foreign patent search groups review the global dossier service. The Global Dossier provides a secure, single access point for worldwide IP examination. Your attorney can use this tool to uncover related applications and file histories from all participating international intellectual property offices – including the USPTO, EPO, KIPO, and JPO. With dossier results, you can review the comparable prior art family, along with the citation data and application classification. Your attorney can also scan for office action indicators. Of course, this can give you a better idea on the competitive nature of your invention. Definitely, international patent search attorneys thoroughly review the global dossier to find worldwide prior art.

Analyze Scholarly Records

Now, your global patent search attorney will carefully analyze scholarly records and documents. Licensed patent search companies use advanced databases to scan millions of academic works. During research, experienced attorneys review open public resources, file compositions, and citation graphs. These patent searching services can expose comparable academic research, relevant academia, and enterprise influence similar to your idea. Specifically, your patent search global report can reveal known inventions, related keywords, classification codes, and subjects. Certainly, global patent search solutions analyze scholarly records to find international IP collections.

Global patent search services follow a thorough process to unlock international IP. To begin, attorneys perform international patent classification (IPC). Next, they carefully scan US patent databases. After a successful domestic search, attorneys move on to international patent offices. Then, they compare results with the global dossier service. Afterwards, there's one final scan of scholarly records and academic works. Follow the points above to learn how global patent search services find international IP.