Patent search. Before you file.

A patent search checks existing patents and published applications to see whether your invention is already claimed before you spend on a full application. Doing it first can save significant money by revealing prior art that would block your patent or narrow your claims. It is the sensible first step for any inventor, and we can point you to how it fits the process.

It is not legally required, but it is strongly advisable: filing without a search risks spending on an application that the patent office rejects over prior art you could have found first. A search shapes stronger claims. We flag where a professional search fits before you invest in the filing itself.

Prior art is any existing evidence, patents, publications, products, that your invention already exists or is obvious in light of what came before, and it is the main reason patents get rejected. A search looks for prior art so you know your real chances. We help you understand how prior art affects your specific idea's patentability.

You can start with free databases like the USPTO and Google Patents, which is worth doing, but professional searchers and patent attorneys find prior art laypeople miss and interpret claims properly. A DIY search is a useful first pass, not a final answer. We can point you toward a professional search when the stakes justify it.

A patent search looks for existing inventions and technical prior art; a trademark search looks for existing brand names and logos. They protect different things, inventions versus brand identity, and use different databases. If you have both an invention and a brand, you need both searches. We can help coordinate the brand side.

A basic self-search can be done in hours, while a thorough professional search and analysis typically takes days to a couple of weeks depending on the field's complexity. Rushing it undermines the point. We flag realistic timing so the search informs your filing decision rather than being skipped for speed.

It does not necessarily kill your idea: you may be able to narrow or refocus your claims around what is genuinely new, or decide the space is too crowded to pursue. Either way, knowing early is valuable. A patent attorney interprets the findings, and we can point you to that step.

Often yes: once a search suggests your invention is patentable, a provisional patent can establish an early filing date affordably while you prepare the full application. The search informs whether the provisional is worth filing. We explain how the two steps connect for your situation.

We handle forming the entity that will own the invention, which matters for licensing, investment, and liability, and can point you toward patent professionals for the search and filing. Owning IP in a proper entity rather than personally is often the right structure, and we set that up.