Table of Contents
About the Editors. About Landon IP, Inc.
Acknowledgments.
Preface.
Chapter 1: Patent Law and Examination as Context for Patent Searching.
The U.S. Patent System.
Look before You Leap: Considerations before Filing.
Patent Examination Process.
Backlog of Patent Applications.
Chapter 2: Types of Patent Searches.
Patentability.
Validity.
Infringement.
Clearance.
State of the Art.
Patent Landscape.
Benefits of Prior Art Searching.
Chapter 3: The Mechanics of Searching.
Introduction.
Properly Scoping the Search.
Conducting the Search.
Issues Peculiar to Certain Technical Disciplines.
Estimating Search Time.
Chapter 4: Patent Analysis.
The Precursor to Patent Analysis.
Searches versus Analyses: What’s the Difference?
Features of Patent Analyses and Reporting.
Sample Patent Analysis Report.
Chapter 5: Approaches to Reporting Search Results.
Purpose of the Search Report.
Anatomy of a Search Report.
Writing a Summary.
Presenting the Subject Matter.
Discussing References.
Writing Discussions.
Indicating Claims.
Prioritizing References.
Central References.
Peripheral References.
Central and Peripheral References.
Search History.
Classification Areas.
Databases Accessed.
Examiners Contacted.
Conclusion.
Chapter 6: Search Tools.
The Availability of Patent Information.
Criteria for Selecting Search Tools.
When to Select a Search Tool.
Data Sources for Chemical Searches.
Data Sources for Mechanical Searches.
Data Sources For Electrical/Computer Searches.
Data Sources for Business Methods Searches.
Methods of Access.
Text Search Syntax.
Discussion of Specific Search Tools.
Access to Nonpatent Literature.
Value-Added Capabilities of Search Tools.
Conclusion.
Index.
