Why conduct patent searches?
Beyond avoiding infringing someone else’s patent, you might want to conduct patent searches for different reasons. Patent information can help you avoid wasting time and money duplicating work done elsewhere. Since IP rights are specific to a particular jurisdiction, there might be relevant technologies available for licensing or in the public domain because there where not protected in the country you are operating/ want to operate or because the patent protection has expired. Patent information can also help you keep an eye on your competitor’s research activities and is a huge source of technological and commercial intelligence and innovation trends.
