Patent Prior Art Search —
Know What Exists Before
You File
Before investing in a patent application, know what prior art exists. A comprehensive prior art search across Indian and global patent databases identifies existing patents, published applications, and non-patent literature that could block your application or reduce its scope.
8 Major Patent Databases Covered
A thorough prior art search covers multiple international databases — not just the Indian Patent Office. Missing a single global database could leave key prior art undiscovered. TaxClue's registered patent agents search across 8 major databases: Indian Patent Office (InPASS), USPTO, Espacenet/EPO, WIPO PATENTSCOPE, CNIPA, Non-Patent Literature (scientific journals), Derwent/Lens.org, and FTO & Litigation Databases.
The search is designed using IPC/CPC classification codes, keywords, assignee names, and citation mapping across all relevant databases for your technology area. Results are filtered for relevance by our patent agent, and delivered as a comprehensive PDF report with a written patentability opinion.
What Happens If You Skip the Prior Art Search
Filing without a prior art search creates serious risks: application rejected for lack of novelty after 18–36 months of waiting, claims granted that are too broad and later invalidated, commercialising a product without FTO search leading to potential infringement, missing design-around opportunities, and wasting complete specification filing fees (₹16,000–₹80,000 in govt. fees) on a doomed application.
4 Types of Patent Search — Which One Do You Need?
Patentability / Novelty Search
The most common — ordered before filing. Identifies prior art that could affect novelty or inventive step. Assesses whether the invention clears the novelty bar under Sec. 2(1)(l).
Freedom to Operate (FTO)
Can you commercialise without infringing? Identifies third-party patents that could be infringed by your product/process. Critical before product launch or manufacturing scale-up.
State-of-the-Art / Landscape
Comprehensive mapping of all patents in a technology space. Identifies key players, patent thickets, and white spaces. Useful for R&D strategy, investment due diligence.
Invalidity / Validity Search
For litigation, licensing negotiation. Identifies prior art that invalidates a competitor's patent claims. Used in infringement defence — challenge the asserted patent.
International / PCT Search
Before PCT / Paris Convention filing. Covers 190+ countries in the PCT system. International Search Report (ISR) strategy support. Assess novelty in target countries.
Chemical / Pharma / Biotech
Specialised for complex molecule inventions. Structure-based and functional search. Markush structure analysis. Sequence search (BLAST) for biological inventions.
How TaxClue Conducts Your Prior Art Search
Invention Disclosure
You share your invention description with TaxClue. We sign an NDA on request. Our patent agent reviews the disclosure and identifies key inventive features and technical keywords.
Search Strategy Design
We build a search strategy using IPC/CPC classification codes, keywords, assignee names, and citation mapping across all relevant databases for your technology area.
Database Search
Comprehensive search executed across IPO, USPTO, Espacenet, WIPO, CNIPA, and non-patent literature. Results filtered for relevance by our patent agent.
Report & Opinion
Prior art report compiled with relevance ratings, claim strategy recommendations, and patentability opinion. Delivered as a PDF report with a walkthrough call.
What You Get with TaxClue
Executive Summary
Plain-language summary — key prior art found, patentability assessment, recommended next steps.
Prior Art Reference List
Complete list of all relevant patents and publications with bibliographic details and relevance ratings (X/Y/A).
Claim Strategy Recommendations
How to structure your patent claims to navigate around the prior art found. Independent and dependent claim strategy.
Patentability Opinion
Our patent agent's written opinion on whether the invention meets novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
Search Types Compared
| Patentability Search | FTO Search | Landscape Search | Invalidity Search | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Can I patent this? | Can I sell this? | What's out there? | Can I challenge this patent? |
| When | Before filing | Before commercialisation | R&D / investment | Litigation / licensing |
| Focus | Novelty + inventive step | Active patents in market | Full technology mapping | Specific patent's validity |
| Output | Patentability opinion | Risk-based FTO opinion | Landscape map + white spaces | Invalidity arguments |
| Databases | IPO + global | Active patents in target jurisdictions | All major databases | IPO + global + NPL |
| Delivery | 5–7 days | 7–10 days | 10–15 days | 7–10 days |
Key Facts
Why Choose TaxClue?
8 Database Coverage
IPO, USPTO, EPO, WIPO, CNIPA, NPL, Derwent, FTO databases.
Written Patentability Opinion
Not just a list of documents — a legal opinion on patentability.
Claim Strategy Included
How to draft claims that navigate around the prior art found.
All Technology Areas
Mechanical, electronics, pharma, biotech, software, clean energy.
5–7 Day Delivery
Report delivered as PDF with walkthrough call.
4.9/5 · Registered Agents
IPO-qualified patent agents. NDA on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Patent Prior Art Search — Know Before You File
Don't file blind. TaxClue's patent prior art search covers 8 major global databases, delivers a written patentability opinion, and gives you claim strategy recommendations — all before you spend on the application.
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