Patent Search
Before you apply for a patent (or a trademark), use the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office resources to understand the basics and prepare yourself.
Inventors are encouraged to search the USPTO’s patent database to determine whether a patent similar to theirs has already been filed or granted. Conduct these searches through the USPTO Patent Full-Text and Image Database (PatFT). The USPTO houses full-text access to patents issued from 1976 to the present, as well as PDF images for all patents dating back to 1790.
Using these resources will help assess the novelty of an invention and help to navigate the patent application process.
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