NOVELTY SEARCH / PATENTABILITY ASSESSMENT
It is recommended that a novelty search be conducted before filing an application for patent to meet the statutory requirements from a patent office - patentable subject matter, novel, non-obvious and industrial applicability. It involves identifying patent and non-patent literature that can render an invention 'not patentable'. Apart from worldwide patent databases, scientific publications and business materials are also searched. The invention is evaluated for commercial potential as well factoring in various parameters including, but not limited to, problems solved, industrial application, market size, potential market growth, potential licensing opportunities, funding opportunities, and market challenges. Needless to say, a patentability report helps in defining the limits of claims while drafting a patent for an invention.
PATENT INVALIDATION
Invalidation Search is conducted after a patent is issued, with the purpose of finding prior art that the patent examiner might have overlooked. Such prior art can affect the validity of the claims of the patent in question. The interested party, in most cases, have been found to be an entity infringing, or potentially infringing, the patent. In some cases, the patent owner or other entity that has a financial stake in the patent may so wish to have such search conducted to confirm the validity of the patent. It involves identification of potential prior art and mapping of claim elements of the patent to the relevant text of the prior art. We have professional proficiency in conducting the search in English, German and French. Mandarin and Japanese language-supported searches can be conducted on special request
FREEDOM-TO-OPERATE
Product Clearance, in other words Freedom-to-Operate, is carried out before launching any new product in a particular jurisdiction. This type of prior art search is performed to assess the risk of potential infringement. It involves identifying and mapping the claim language of the third party in-force patents vis-a-vis the specifications/features of the product to be manufactured. We also extend into the expired patents and abandoned and pending applications to help you locate any public domain clearance.
STATE-OF-THE-ART
A State-of-the-Art Search is performed to designed to provide a general idea of the existing prior art in a specific technology, either within a given country or region, or globally. It can be as comprehensive or limited as needed. This information may be useful to companies considering entry into a new product line or technology to be able to build a framework for product and process design and business planning. It involves search for patented ideas, published patent applications, published papers, and non-patent literature in the technology of interest. Needless to say, it helps in tracking the competition.
PATENT LANDSCAPE
Patent Landscape provides a snapshot of the situation of a specific technology, either within a given country or region, or globally. They can inform policy discussions, strategic research planning or technology transfer. It begins with a state-of-the-art search for the relevant technology in selected patent databases. The search results are then analyzed to answer specific questions the customer may have or routine questions about, for example, patterns of patenting activity or of innovation. A visual presentation of the results assists in understanding of the technology at large, and conclusions or recommendations based on the empirical evidence are provided.
WHITE SPACE ANALYSIS
White Space Analysis has been used to good effect in identifying opportunities for companies thinking of exiting existing business or companies looking high growth opportunities or companies wanting to explore strategic diversification. It begins with a technology landscape which is looked at up and down the value chain with a new lens. It helps uncover opportunities that does not obviously appear to as worthy of getting into or identifying new openings that are untouched by the competitors. It can also be an important outcome of customer inquires and discovery processes leading to new profit/growth opportunities by defining potential gaps in existing markets. The conclusions or recommendations of the analysis may lead to incremental innovation in products or services which translates to economic value in the long run.
COMPETITIVE INTELLIGENCE
Competitive Intelligence is performed to define, gather, analyze, and distribute intelligence about products, customers, competitors, and any aspect of the environment needed to support executives and managers making strategic decisions for an organization. It essentially means understanding and learning what is happening in the world outside the business so one can be as competitive as possible. It involves gathering of publicly-available information about an enterprise's competitors and the use of that information to gain a business advantage. The goals of competitive intelligence include evaluating potential business opportunities as well as risks and enabling faster reaction to competitors' actions and events. In short, it empowers anticipating and facing challenges head on.
PATENT / DESIGN WATCH
Patent / Design Watch is an important tool for any organization towards promoting innovation practices within its team by letting them stay abreast of the technology trend in the industry. Published patent applications and issued patents or industrial designs form a major part of our technology watch reports. Such reports are delivered weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or quarterly, and support patenting and competitive intelligence initiatives of the organization. A newly issued patent or design encountered in the reports may be of interest if it appears to cover one or more products or processes sold by the organization. In such cases, it is prudent to commission a clearance opinion to at least show diligence in making sure that the company did not infringe the issued patent or design around or seek a license from the patent owner, or see if any evidence exists which can affect the validity of the pertaining patent.
NON-PATENT AND BUSINESS NEWS
Non-Patent is crucial for any organization to support patenting and competitive intelligence initiatives of the organization. It helps in identifying the new technology explored by companies and inventors, how rapid has the innovation trend been, pursuing incremental innovations and if need be, commercialize and compete with the other players in the market.
Business News helps in staying informed about the strategies adopted by companies to compete in the market. It also helps in understanding the financial situation of the companies to support such strategies which, in turn, can be used to identify potential mergers and acquisitions.
COMPETITOR WATCH
Competitor Watch is performed to keep track of newly published patents or patent applications filed in the name of one or more specific companies or individuals considered as competitor by the organization. Non-patent literature and other information on competitor can also be provided upon special request. It can also be valuable for identifying at an early stage potential infringement risks associated with specific third parties. Such reports are delivered weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or quarterly, and support patent and competitive intelligence initiatives of the organization.
PATENT DRAFTING AND FILING
Patent Drafting, provisional or non-provisional applications, needs to be carried out as per the defined statutory requirements of the patent office where the application is to be filed. All likely variations of the invention, referred to as an embodiment, are anticipated and covered in the description to strengthen the patent application. Our team comprises trained and experienced scientists and engineers who work in a methodical manner to deliver high quality patent drafts. We work in close collaboration with patent agents, client's in-house attorneys or client-appointed law firms to ensure quality and consistency of the drafts.
PATENT OFFICE ACTION
We extend help in drafting office action responses for the under-examination patent applications across all major jurisdictions including US and EP. We also offer customized services in such matters which is amending the rejected claim(s) in light of the prior art cited by the examiner so as to be able to rebut the objections/rejections raised in the Office Action.
PATENT ILLUSTRATION
We provide both utility and design patent drawing services in all major jurisdictions including US and EP. The team uses the latest software (AutoCAD) to deliver high quality, error-free drawings to law firms and corporate legal departments.
CLAIM CHARTING / EVIDENCE-OF-USE
A Claim Chart, in other words Patent-to-Product Mapping or Evidence-of-Use, is carried to maximize the return on existing intellectual property investments. We assign a value to patents based on input received from the owner (companies and inventors), and help in monetizing their inventions by identifying potential infringers, educating them about risk associated with infringement, benefits of licensing, and convincing them to license the patented inventions. It involves identifying the claim construct, mapping the claim elements onto the features of an infringing product, and providing evidence of infringement which includes, but not limited to, product brochures/articles/reviews published on infringer's websites. It also helps in determining how to direct future R&D investments.