About Landon IP, Inc.

Acknowledgments.

Preface.

Chapter 1: Patent Law and Examination as Context for Patent Searching.

The U.S. Patent System.

Look before You Leap: Considerations before Filing.

Patent Examination Process.

Backlog of Patent Applications.

Chapter 2: Types of Patent Searches.

Patentability.

Validity.

Infringement.

Clearance.

State of the Art.

Patent Landscape.

Benefits of Prior Art Searching.

Chapter 3: The Mechanics of Searching.

Introduction.

Properly Scoping the Search.

Conducting the Search.

Issues Peculiar to Certain Technical Disciplines.

Estimating Search Time.

Chapter 4: Patent Analysis.

The Precursor to Patent Analysis.

Searches versus Analyses: What’s the Difference?

Features of Patent Analyses and Reporting.

Sample Patent Analysis Report.

Chapter 5: Approaches to Reporting Search Results.

Purpose of the Search Report.

Anatomy of a Search Report.

Writing a Summary.

Presenting the Subject Matter.

Discussing References.

Writing Discussions.

Indicating Claims.

Prioritizing References.

Central References.

Peripheral References.

Central and Peripheral References.

Search History.

Classification Areas.

Databases Accessed.

Examiners Contacted.

Conclusion.

Chapter 6: Search Tools.

The Availability of Patent Information.

Criteria for Selecting Search Tools.

When to Select a Search Tool.

Data Sources for Chemical Searches.

Data Sources for Mechanical Searches.

Data Sources For Electrical/Computer Searches.

Data Sources for Business Methods Searches.

Methods of Access.

Text Search Syntax.

Discussion of Specific Search Tools.

Access to Nonpatent Literature.

Value-Added Capabilities of Search Tools.

Conclusion.

Index.