Where does an Inventor start?
If an inventor has Internet access, they may attempt to conduct a ‘basic Internet search’. As indicated in our Internet Links section, several search engines are available that you can access to conduct a keyword type search. This is a good place to start. First, you will appreciate how difficult a full and complete search can be to conduct. Second, and possibly more importantly, you may find that your invention has been patented. If you do conduct a search, record the patent numbers of the closest inventions you find to yours and provide them to your patent practitioner as a starting point for a search conducted by a professional Searcher.
