Patentability and Prior-Art Search
Patent drafting is expensive. A prior-art search tells you — for a fraction of that cost — whether the invention is genuinely novel, where the closest prior art sits, and how to frame claims that will survive examination.
- Global patent and non-patent literature search
- Novelty and inventive-step assessment
- Section 3 exclusion analysis
- Freedom-to-operate and invalidity searches
- Government fee from
- Free
- Our fee from
- ₹4,999
- Typical timeline
- 1–2 days
The searches, and when each one matters
A patentability search asks whether your invention is new and inventive over what already exists. It runs before drafting, and it answers the only question that matters at that stage: is this worth spending money on. Where the answer is qualified, the search also shows you which aspects are novel — which directly shapes the claim strategy.
A freedom-to-operate search asks a different question: can I sell this product without infringing someone else's live patent. Novelty and freedom to operate are independent. Your invention can be perfectly novel and still infringe a broader patent held by someone else. FTO searches matter before manufacturing, market entry and fundraising.
An invalidity search is run against a specific patent — usually one that has been asserted against you, or one you are considering licensing. It hunts for prior art that predates the target's priority date and could be used to revoke or narrow it.
All three depend on searching more than patent databases. Academic papers, conference proceedings, product manuals, standards documents and archived websites all count as prior art. A search limited to granted patents misses a large part of the landscape.
What patentability search gives you
The practical advantages, not the marketing version.
Avoid spending on a dead invention
A search costs a fraction of drafting and prosecution. Better to learn early.
Shape stronger claims
Knowing the closest prior art lets us draft claims that are broad but survive examination.
Fewer examination objections
Applications drafted with prior art in view attract fewer and weaker FER objections.
Freedom to operate
Confirm you can manufacture and sell without infringing a live third-party patent.
Investor-grade documentation
A written search report is standard diligence material for deep-tech funding rounds.
Competitive intelligence
See what your competitors are filing and where the white space in your field sits.
The process, step by step
Every stage, with realistic timelines — including the ones that depend on the registry rather than on us.
- 11 day
Invention brief
You describe the invention, its technical field, key features and the problem it solves. An NDA is signed before anything is shared.
- 21–2 days
Search strategy
We build a search strategy using IPC and CPC classification codes, keyword families, synonyms and assignee names.
- 33–5 days
Database search
Searches run across Indian, US, EPO, WIPO, JPO and CNIPA databases, plus non-patent literature and academic sources.
- 42–3 days
Analysis
Closest prior art is identified and mapped feature by feature against your invention to assess novelty and inventive step.
- 51–2 days
Report
You receive a written report with the prior art, a feature-mapping table, a patentability opinion and a recommended claim strategy.
What you need to provide
Have these ready and the filing moves quickly. We tell you if anything is missing before we start.
What we need
- Description of the invention and how it works
- Drawings, schematics or flowcharts
- Key technical features you believe are novel
- Technical field and intended application
- Known competitor products or publications
What you receive
- List of closest prior-art references with publication data
- Feature-by-feature mapping against your invention
- Novelty and inventive-step opinion
- Section 3 exclusion assessment
- Recommended claim scope and filing strategy
Official fees
These are statutory fees payable to the government, separate from our professional fee. We never mark them up.
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Public patent search (InPASS, Espacenet, Google Patents) | Free | Self-service databases. |
| Commercial patentability search | Nil | No government fee — professional fees only. |
Prior-art searching carries no government fee. Free public databases are available, but effective searching depends on classification strategy and access to non-patent literature.
Transparent professional fees
Fixed fees, quoted upfront. Government fees are charged at cost and shown separately on every invoice.
Quick Novelty Check
A fast read on whether the idea looks novel.
- Keyword and classification search
- Top prior-art references identified
- Preliminary novelty view
- 30-minute discussion call
Patentability Search
The search you run before drafting.
- Global patent database search
- Non-patent literature review
- Feature-by-feature prior-art mapping
- Novelty and inventive-step opinion
- Section 3 exclusion analysis
- Recommended claim strategy
Freedom to Operate
Before you manufacture or enter a market.
- Live patent landscape in your jurisdiction
- Claim-chart analysis against your product
- Infringement risk assessment
- Design-around recommendations
- Licensing and invalidity options
Questions we get asked
If your question is not here, send it over — we answer directly rather than routing you to a form.
Can I search patents myself for free?
What is the difference between a patentability search and a freedom-to-operate search?
How long does a patentability search take?
Does a clean search guarantee my patent will be granted?
Is my invention kept confidential during the search?
Still unsure? Book a free consultation and we will tell you honestly whether this is the right service for you.
Ready to start your patentability search?
Talk to an IP professional first. No obligation, no sales script — just a clear view of where you stand and what it will cost.