Simply put, it depends on where you plan to market your invention/product. This consideration has three parts: general marketing and specific patent filing, and the related costs. Is America your primary market, or do you expect to market also to Europe and/or internationally? This decision is best made up front, before you start this whole process since it makes little sense to file in Europe after your US filing unless you have new claims to add.

That said, even if you’re only planning to market in the US, searching as broadly as possible makes sense for market knowledge and strategic planning.

A note on software patents: currently difficult to get in Europe!

At nvntr we provide you with patent search tools that will help you discover what already exists so you can either invent around the search results and create something different or increase the patentability of your innovative ideas by checking their novelty and uniqueness. Through nvntrSEARCH, our skilled search professionals identify all art that is published before a patent application is filed, along with documentation including citations and excerpts from all references that are discovered.

Although you may have searched on Google, USPTO, and other sites believing your invention is 100% original, without a professional patent search you can’t be sure that it is actually “unique.” With a quality patent search, you can find out if your invention is more likely to qualify for a patent. It will also reveal if there is something nearly identical or shares commonality with your idea.

Patent searches can save you a lot of time and money by ensuring whether your invention is preexisting or not. It can save you from investing funds unnecessarily. Through our patent/IP services, you can learn whether or not your patent might violate other patent rights or invalidate one that competes with yours.

Additionally, a patent search can assist you with improving your idea by providing you with a better understanding of what else is available. When you research other patents, you’re able to evaluate whether your invention is different and useful, and, if necessary, make changes and adjustments to improve and strengthen your creations.

nvntrSEARCH services benefit you with the confidence of learning as much as you can about your invention. We have helped our clients find peace of mind by conducting a thorough patent search, allowing them to understand whether a market-changing invention has already been made, as well as how similar or different their design is. Finding positive results on a patent search puts you closer to patenting your idea and monetizing it!