Prior Art and Prosecution History Search

• Author: Arti Kane
• Pages: 17-21

17

Prior Art and Prosecution

History Search

Prior art (also known as state of the art, which also has other meanings,

or background art) in most systems of patent law, constitutes all infor-

mation that has been made available to the public in any form before

a given date that might be relevant to a patent’s claims of originality.

If an invention has been described in the prior art, a patent on that

invention is not valid.

HOW TO DO A PATENT SEARCH

ON THE USPTO WEBSITE

You can search the USPTO’s patent database to see if a patent has

already been filed or granted that is similar to your patent.

1. Go to www.uspto.gov.

2. Click on Patents.

3. Click on Patent Search (Search for Patents).

4. Click on USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT).

5. Under Searching Full Text Patents (Since 1976) click on Quick

Search.

6. Enter keywords that describe your invention.

Find prior art issued before the date of your invention.

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