Patent Search and Mapping Support
Patent Search Support
Patent search support across the IP lifecycle
Freedom to operate, infringement, invalidity, and patentability searches, across jurisdictions
IIPRD provides patent search support for every stage of an invention's life, from a pre-filing novelty check to a freedom-to-operate clearance, an infringement read, or an invalidity challenge. Each search is run by domain-specialist searchers against comprehensive databases and mapped to the claims that matter, so legal and business teams can decide with confidence.
Four searches, four decisions
Each search answers a distinct question about an invention, a product, or a patent. Select the one that fits the decision in front of you.
Freedom to Operate Search
A Freedom to Operate (FTO) search is conducted to assess whether a proposed product, process, or technology may be commercialised without infringing valid third-party patent rights in one or more jurisdictions.
Infringement Search
An infringement search is conducted to determine whether a specific product, process, system, or technology potentially falls within the scope of one or more claims of an issued patent or pending application.
Invalidity / Validity Search
An invalidity search is undertaken to identify prior art that may undermine the validity of one or more claims of an issued patent or pending application. Unlike pre-filing patentability searches, invalidity searches are conducted in an adversarial or risk-assessment context.
Patentability Search
Patentability search, also referred to as a pre-filing or novelty search, is conducted to assess whether an invention satisfies the statutory requirements for patent protection, namely, novelty and inventive step (non-obviousness).
Matching the search to the question
The four searches sit at different points in the lifecycle and answer different questions. This is the quickest way to tell them apart.
| Search | The question it answers | Typical context |
|---|---|---|
| Patentability | Is the invention novel and non-obvious? | Before filing |
| Freedom to operate | Can the product be commercialised without infringing? | Before launch, by jurisdiction |
| Infringement | Does a product fall within a patent's claims? | Assessing a specific product |
| Invalidity / validity | Is there prior art to challenge the claims? | Adversarial or risk assessment |
Searches you can build a decision on
The value of a search is in what it lets you decide. Our teams deliver thorough, claim-focused searches that stand up to scrutiny.
Domain-specialist searchers
Searches run by professionals with expertise in the relevant technical field.
Global jurisdiction coverage
Patent and literature coverage across the jurisdictions relevant to your decision.
Comprehensive databases
Patent and non-patent literature searched across major commercial and public databases.
Claim-focused analysis
Results mapped to the specific claims and features that drive the answer.
AI-assisted + human reviewed
Technology accelerates discovery while experienced searchers validate the findings.
Decision-ready reports
Clear, structured reports that legal and business teams can act on directly.