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Characteristics of Our Search
----------------------------------- Search SuiteGreyB’s team of experienced engineers and researchers conduct comprehensive patent searches for our clients. The scope of the patent search depends on the particular needs of a customer, but we offer the following selection of effective search services to provide a pivotal understanding of the patent landscape: (1) Validity Search
A validity search is designed to locate prior art patents or scientific literature that predates the effective filing date of the patent being investigated. A validity search will address every claim of the patent under scrutiny, and all relevant patents discovered will be reviewed to assist you in your analysis. A validity search can serve as a basis for a legal opinion against infringement or as due diligence prior to selling or license a patent. File wrappers can be obtained and reviewed when authorized. (2) Right to Use/Clearance SearchA right to use or clearance search normally includes a complete infringement search through unexpired U.S. patents which could present a possible infringement problem with respect to the invention/product description at hand and a limited validity search through both expired and unexpired patents and publications which might be used to invalidate any patents that might cause an infringement situation. Another reason in locating expired patents is to provide proof that an invention is already in the public domain. (3) Sequence SearchThis type of search helps you to review prior art references of a chosen protein/nucleotide sequences. Invention that relates to proteins/nucleic acids and other biomolecules requires through search the sequence databases to identify similar sequences published in patent and non-patent references. The search report helps in deciding if a patenting process on the desired sequence will be worthwhile for you. Within the patent area, the search covers sequences found in USPTO, INPADOC/EPO and WIPO/PCT. In addition, the search covers sequences from databases like DGENE, PCTGENE, USGENE, REGISTRY databases on STN & open access databases like GenBank, PubMed. (4) State of the Art SearchA state of the art search is directed to find patents that represent the general state of art (technology) to a particular type of invention or subject matter. A state of the art search is similar to a collection search but the researcher is allowed judgment in selecting patents. This type of search normally locates patents from the last 15 to 20 years, including published patent applications. (5) Infringement SearchAn infringement search normally involves the careful review of unexpired U.S. patents to locate claims that read on the invention at issue. Additionally, analogous art areas are also investigated and supplied to assist in addressing the issue of contributory infringement. (6) Patentability/Novelty SearchGreyB's patentability search is intended to locate patents or scientific literature documents, which help patent attorneys to determine the patentability, novelty, and non-obviousness of your invention. If feasible, the search is carried out both on the utility and design features of your invention providing the option of pursuing both design and utility patent protection. This common search finds the most related prior-art patents pertinent to the patentability of your invention. Typically, 12-15 prior-art references are found and may serve as a basis for a patentability opinion, and are submitted in an invention disclosure statement with your patent applications filing. (7) Patent Application Draft Search
Such searches are similar to patentability searches and are designed to identify relevant prior art for each element claimed in the patent application draft. The search is run with the mind-set of the patent examiner. The outcome of the search will help the attorney to correctly phrase (or redraft sections of application) and focus the claims in order to increase the chances of patent application being approved by the examiner.
(8) Accelerated Examination SearchesAccelerated Examination searches are pre-examination searches that comply with the USPTO procedures for Accelerated Examinations. This type of search is generally used by companies to achieve a final decision by the examiner within 12 months from the filing date of the application. It is important to note, however, that the 12 month period is simply a target, and failure by the USPTO to meet the target is neither petitionable nor appealable. (9) Assignment/Patentee Search
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