Prior Art Search for the Technology

Prior Art is an existing technology or information available to the public before the filing of a patent application for a technology. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides a one year grace period to file after making a public disclosure. In all foreign countries, patent rights are forfeited if any public disclosure is made before a patent application is filed. Prior art can be in the form of articles, slides, poster presentations, thesis, electronic information, grants and contract proposals.

Prior art includes patent landscape analyses- identifying patent literature (both patent and patent applications) that might be relevant to a particular technological application as well as published literature related to a technology.

Effect of Prior Art Search on technology

• Determine commercial potential
• Identification of potential licensee or partners
• Focused marketing techniques by providing fair market value