Patentability & Novelty
Searching.
Whether you're an inventor, a drafting attorney, or an R&D team, our patentability searches identify the prior art that matters — before an examiner does.
Why Choose DeMarcoIP.
Our team of experienced searchers meticulously reviews your disclosure to locate the strongest prior art in your field. For drafting attorneys, our searches include examples of allowed claims in the art — giving you the insight to decide how narrow or broad your initial claims should be, maximizing the chances of a speedy allowance. For inventors and R&D teams, our searches provide the clarity needed to continue research and development in a productive and informed direction.
WHY IT MATTERS
Benefits of a Patentability Search.
Whether you're filing a provisional or evaluating the novelty of your invention, a thorough patentability search sets the foundation for a stronger patent strategy.
OUR DELIVERABLE
What You Receive.
Every patentability search from DeMarcoIP results in a customized report tailored to your needs and preferred review methods. We provide a detailed list of the most relevant patents, complete with notes highlighting specific areas of the specification that align with your invention's points of novelty. Our reports are designed to be interactive and actionable — not just information, but insights that drive strategic decisions.
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Carefully selected prior art showing the most analogous technology to your disclosure.
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Each reference includes notes pinpointing specific areas of the specification that relate to your invention's points of novelty.
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Complete transparency into the databases searched, classification codes used, and keyword strategies employed — so you can see exactly how we arrived at our findings.
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Our traditional report template delivers clarity and insight, but we're always ready to customize and enhance based on your preferred review methods.
Your Search Team.
At DeMarcoIP, we want you to know who is doing your search. While one of our Directors is likely handling most of the communication, neither of them is doing all the work — our Directors grind out work product alongside the full team of patent searchers. And at any point during the engagement, you're welcome to speak directly with the searcher working on your project.
HOW IT WORKS
Our Process.
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STEP #1 - Request & Disclosure
You share your invention disclosure, draft claims, or any supporting materials with our team. We review the technology, identify the key points of novelty, and confirm the scope of the search. This is where we ask the right questions to make sure we're searching for the right things.
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STEP #2 - Search Assignment & Method
We assign your project to an experienced searcher with relevant technical expertise, who develops and executes a customized search strategy using classification-based strategies, keyword searches, and citation analysis across top-tier patent databases. At any point, you're welcome to speak directly with the searcher working on your project.
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STEP #3 - Review & Delivery
We compile the most relevant prior art into a detailed, easy-to-read report, complete with specification notes and full transparency into our search methodology. Reports are delivered on time and we remain available to discuss results after you and your team have had time to review. Supplemental searching can also be ordered if needed.
Frequently Asked Questions.
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A patentability search, also called a novelty search or prior art search, identifies existing patents and publications that may be relevant to your invention. The goal is to uncover references that a patent examiner might cite as prior art in a §102 (novelty) or §103 (obviousness) rejection, so you can make informed decisions before filing.
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Our clients include law firms preparing patent applications, individual inventors evaluating their ideas, R&D departments assessing the patentability of new technology, and tech transfer offices at universities looking to protect and license innovations.
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You'll receive a detailed report containing the 5–10 most relevant prior art references, each with notes highlighting specific areas of the specification that align with your invention's points of novelty. You'll also receive full transparency into our search methodology.
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A typical patentability search takes approximately two weeks from the time we receive your disclosure and the project is approved. Timelines can vary depending on the complexity of the technology and the scope of the search, but we'll provide an estimated turnaround when we scope your project and keep you updated throughout.
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We use multiple industry-leading patent search platforms covering U.S. and international patent literature, as well as national patent office databases. We test every major system annually and select the tools that give us the best odds of finding the most relevant art. We also search non-patent literature where appropriate.
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Free tools are a starting point, but professional searching requires expert analysis, classification-based strategies, and access to premium databases with more sophisticated search capabilities. Our experienced searchers know how to find art that keyword-only searches miss — and they know how to interpret what they find.
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Absolutely. Our traditional report template is designed for clarity and actionability, but we're always happy to customize the format and depth of analysis based on your preferred review methods and workflow.
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Ideally, before you invest significant time and money in drafting and filing a patent application. A patentability search early in the process helps you understand the landscape, identify potential obstacles, and make strategic decisions about how to position your claims.
READY TO BEGIN?
Start Your Patentability Search.
Contact us today to scope your project and take the first step toward a stronger patent strategy.