A Presentation by Mr. Nitin Nair, BananaIP Contact Us for Intellectual Property Services BananaIP Counsels Regd Office No.40,3rd Main Road,JC Industrial Estate, Kanakapura Road,Bangalore – 560 062. Email: contact@bananaip.com Telephone: +91-80-26860414 /24/34

1. Patent Search
By
Nitin Nair

2. Patent Search
 Performed to uncover related references
 May be patent/patent applications,
technical papers, articles or any source
open to the public

3. Types of searches
 Patentability Analysis
 Freedom to Operate Analysis
 Landscape Analysis
 Infringement Analysis
 Invalidity Search

4. Patentability Analysis
 To understand the prior arts that may affect
the chance of obtaining a patent for an
invention and assist in preparing the draft
 Novelty
 Non-obviousness

5. Landscape Analysis
 To understand the technology and areas of
research

6. Infringement Analysis
 A check if a product infringes on a patent

7. FTO Analysis
 A check if a product/process may be
practiced in a jurisdiction

8. Invalidity Analysis
 Searching for prior art which will invalidate a
patent

9. Search Databases
 Free databases
 USPTO, Espacenet, Google Patents
 Paid databases
 Delphion, Micropatent, Thomson Scientific,
Questel

10. Search methodologies
 Keyword Searches
 Classification based searches

11. Keyword Searches
 Detailed as possible
 Use as many synonyms/variations in
terminology as possible
 Boolean operators

12. Keyword Searches - Example
 A flexible cylindrical length of plastic, where
both ends of the cylinder are open. The
diameter of the cylinder may be very small,
as compared to the height of the cylinder.
The plastic may be of a single colour or may
have a design on the outer surface.

13.  Drawbacks
 Inconsistent terminologies
 Non-English patent documents
Keyword Searches

14. Classification based searches
 Patents are classified into various classes
 Search is performed within classes

15. Types of classifications
 IPC
 ECLA
 USPTO Classification
 F term
 Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC)

16. Classification based searches
 USPTO 7 step strategy
 Discover keywords
 Find potential classes using classification index
 Verify classes using classification schedule
 Verify scope use class definitions
 Search for patents in the identified classes
 Retrieve relevant patents
 Check other sources

17. Classification based searches
 USPTO 7 step strategy
 Discover keywords
 Find potential classes from relevant patents
identified using the keywords
 Verify classes using classification schedule
 Verify scope using class definitions
 Search for patents in the identified classes
 Retrieve relevant patents
 Check other sources

18. Google Patents - Search

19. Google Patents - Search

20. Google Patents - Search

21. Google Patents - Search

22. USPTO search

23. USPTO search

24. Tips
 Citations
 Searched classes
 Inventors
 Assignee
 Family members

25. Thank you
Nitin Nair
nitin@bananaip.com
9901633100
www.bananaip.com