For the R&D activities for new products, to understand the prior-art information is very much important. For the manufacturing and sales activities of new products, to check the potential infringement against competitors’ patent rights is also important. Furthermore, to understand the power balance, etc. of newly joining industrial field is also important.
Prior Art Search
(Collection Search by Specific Theme) |
Purposes
Collecting relevant and/or relating prior art publications according to the search features.
- This research works as an effective guiding principle for R&D activities such as the acquisition of technology knowledge and the development of new technologies as well as for determining the direction for future development themes.
- This research enables to know the technology pitch of other companies and the existence of patents owned by other companies that may pose a threat to clients' business endeavors.
- This research enables clients to know what rights are owned by other companies, thus preventing redundant research and investment and thereby saving costs.
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| Patentability Search |
Purposes
- Based on the search features or claims, IP Techno tries to uncover relevant or similar documents.
- By identifying the prior-arts, upon filing an application, the client can prepare the claims which has remarkable differences between the prior-arts.
- Avoiding applications that replicate the prior-arts, application filing costs can be reduced.
- The extracted prior-art documents can serve as valuable reference materials for new inventions.
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| Patentability Search (Foreign Application) |
Purposes
Based on the scope of the claims, this search extracts materials and supplemental information for assessing the patentability.
- The research provides a basis for judging whether an foreign application (second application claiming the priority) should be filed and helps reducing the cost of the application.
- - Clients can select as target countries for research both Japan (assessment of the patentability by using Japanese publications) and / or foreign countries such as ones for advancing specific technology fields.
* Including comparison between the disclosures and the target search features
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| Patentability Search (before Examination Request) |
Purposes
In the search, we will try to uncover publications which can be useful for patentability check against the scope of claims.
- The client can decide whether or not the examination request should be done so that the useless examination request may be avoided in advance.
- For the application whose examination was already requested, the refunding rule can be discussed (refund of one-half of the examination request fee).
- More effective amendment or the like can be done before mailing the Office Action, considering the company’s business plan and /or competitor’s patent actions.
- Useful for the prior-art check upon an early examination request system.
* Including comparison between the disclosures and the target search features
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| Patentability Search (Third-party Information Presentation) |
Purposes
The search can uncover the prior-art publications which can deny the patentability of the target patent application so that they are submitted to the Patent Office.
- The cost of this search would be less than one for raising the invalidation trial.
- To prevent a potential infringement against the competitor’s patent which can be a risk of the business.
- If the scope of claims is further limited, future licensing negotiations can be handled more easily.
- IP Techno serves as agent for the submittal of the documents to the Patent Office under preservation of client anonymity (incurs an additional fee).
* Including comparison between the disclosures and the target search features
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| Invalidity Search |
Purposes
This search can uncover prior-art publications which can be useful for invalidating or limiting the claims of the registered patent own by the business rivals.
- Good prior-art documents can be useful against the patent owned by the business rivals.
- Through the invalidation trial, one can eliminate patents owned by the business rivals which can be a risk for the business.
- If there is no need for the invalidation trial, the useful prior-art can be a good assistance for the licensing negotiations.
- If there is no warning from others, the useful prior-art can be also a good assistance for the licensing negotiations.
* Including comparison between the disclosures and the target search features
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| Infringement Search (Freedom-to-Operate Search) |
Purposes
This search can collect patent publication which can be a risk in view of the infringement relating to the client’s article or product.
- To avoid the risk for a potential infringement, of client’s article or product, against patents owned by the business rivals.
- To prevent patent dispute which will cost hugely.
- The search for the proto-type or developing product, the client can change the design of the product in the early stage.
* Necessary to clarify the search target features through meeting with client
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