Patent Attorneys
Patents are exclusive legal rights that protect new inventions. Mohun Aldridge Sykes are patent attorneys possessing the skill and experience to support businesses of all sizes on the entire patent process, including patent searches and patent applications, so that you don't get caught out by any infringement claims and start creating revenue and a commercial monopoly on your idea.
What is a Patent Search?
Carrying out a patent search is a critical first step in protecting innovation and reducing risk. Before investing time and resources into developing or filing a patent, businesses should assess whether their invention is truly new and whether existing rights could present barriers to commercialisation.
A patent search involves reviewing published patent applications and granted patents to identify technologies or inventions that are similar. This helps determine the novelty and inventiveness of your idea, both essential requirements for securing patent protection. It can also reveal trends in your sector and highlight competitor activity, providing valuable commercial insight.
In the UK, patent information can be accessed through databases provided by the UK Intellectual Property Office, as well as international resources such as the European Patent Office. However, navigating these databases effectively requires both technical understanding and experience in interpreting patent claims, which is why your business will benefit from our expertise.
Why a Patent Search Is Advisable
Carrying out a patent search can be a valuable first step in protecting innovation and reducing risk. Before investing time and resources into developing or filing a patent application, businesses can assess whether their invention is novel and whether existing rights could present barriers to commercialisation. These are actually two different kinds of search.
A novelty search involves reviewing published documents such as patent applications and granted patents (and other "prior art") to identify technologies or inventions that are similar. This helps determine the novelty and inventiveness of your idea, both essential requirements for securing patent protection. It can also reveal trends in your sector and highlight competitor activity, providing valuable commercial insight.
In the UK, patent information can be accessed through databases provided by the UK Intellectual Property Office, as well as international resources such as the European Patent Office. However, navigating these databases effectively requires both technical understanding and experience in interpreting patent disclosures, which is why your business will benefit from our expertise.
To help evaluate the risk of infringing someone else's patent, a different kind of search will be needed. Sometimes called a "freedom to operate" (FTO) search, this will look for granted patents that are in force, in a territory of interest, with claims that cover what you are proposing to do.
