Ensure an in-depth understanding of invention/product disclosure.
Extract relevant keywords, key features, synonyms, and technical equivalents associated with the invention.
Use identified keywords to conduct a keyword-based search on paid and free databases.
Extract and compile relevant patents along with relevant International Patent Classification (IPC), Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC), or United States Patent Classification (USPC) classes.
Conduct jurisdiction based specific broad and narrow combination search, i.e. class + keywords.
Shortlist patents related to the subject domain that are already in litigation stages (opened & closed) and analyse them on a priority basis.
Determine the most active assignees or inventors associated with the shortlisted patents. Conduct an assignee search (assignee + class + keywords, assignee + class, assignee + keywords) or an inventor-based search (assignee + class + keywords, assignee + class, assignee + keywords).
Conduct citation analysis and similarity search of the shortlisted relevant patents.
Utilize semantic search techniques to identify patents with similar meanings or concepts.
Map claims of relevant patents to the key features of the invention/product/process, providing comprehensive searcher’s comments.
Map relevant patent documents with respect to key features. If patents are granted, map only granted patents; otherwise, map from the patent application.
In the case of Pending applications, map claims from amended claims in recent office action and look into the description of pending applications, as they can be converted into divisional applications and highlight such results.
Add proper searcher’s comment if a particular element is not explicitly disclosed/mapped based on inference.
Add the overall patent summary before the mapping column.
Highlight (blue/red colour) extra limitations or elements in the mapped claim. Add extra limitations mentioned in the mapped claim (extra limitations in the independent claim or extra elements apart from information disclosed in disclosure) after the patent summary column.
Arrange results in relevancy order (patents with broad claims should be at the top).
FTO Search Documentation/Report
A concise report is formed with detailed mapping, search queries, searcher comments, and a search summary for client reference and analysis.
Check client-specific requirements, if any, before finalizing the report.
