What is a patent (or patentability) search?
It is a search of existing patents and other publications to determine if the invention is new, novel and non-obvious; and, thus, potentially patentable. Why Should I Do a Patent Search? You believe that you have something that is new, novel, and non-obvious, and would like to see the invention protected by a patent. But before SDSMT can obtain a patent, several steps must be taken. Among these is performing a prior art search. As the inventor, you know your brainchild better than anyone else does – and that is why it is important for you to perform a prior art search to save money and headaches for all of us later on down the road. As a researcher, it is an excellent idea to perform prior art searches before and during your research project. This could be thought of as an extension of a literature search. It would be a shame to invest your and OIPMILs time and resources into trying to obtain a patent, only to find out someone else has come up with and disclosed a similar invention. If
