Patent Search Services
The best patent decisions start with knowing what already exists. A good search tells you whether your invention is likely to be new, whether you are free to launch, and what your competitors are doing. Panoramix IP delivers clear, actionable searches, with an in-house team that handles the searching, the analysis and the advice, so you can invest in patent protection and product development with confidence.
From a quick novelty check before you file a patent application to a full freedom to operate analysis before you launch, we help you understand the patent landscape and make well-informed decisions.
• Novelty and patentability searches before you invest in filing
• Freedom to operate searches before you launch a product
• Clear reports that translate search results into practical advice
Click below or call us on 01522 712 433 to discuss managing your patent search requirements.
Patent Search Specialists: Here To Help
Our patent professionals help you see the landscape clearly before you commit time and money, turning raw search results into advice you can act on.
Here’s what we help with:
• Novelty and patentability searches to assess whether an invention is new
• Freedom to operate (FTO) searches to check whether a product risks infringing others’ patents
• Validity and invalidity searches to support patent enforcement or defence
• State of the art and landscape searches to map a technology area
• Competitor and patent monitoring to track relevant filings
• Clear written opinions interpreting the results
• Search strategy coordinated with your patent filing and commercial plans
Our Patent Search Process
If you need to understand the patent landscape, here’s how it works with Panoramix IP:
• We have a quick call to understand your invention or product and the decision you need to make
• We agree the type and scope of search that fits your goal and budget
• We define the technical features and search terms and run the search across relevant databases
• We review and analyse the results, filtering out the noise
• We give you a clear report and opinion on what the results mean for you
• We advise on next steps, whether that means filing a patent application, designing around an existing patent, or carrying out further investigation
You can discuss patent strategy and search requirements during a free, no-obligation IP consultation with one of our specialists.
Brands we have Helped
Make Confident Decisions Before You Invest
Filing a patent, or launching a product, is a significant investment. A well-targeted search reduces the risk of that investment being undermined by prior art you did not know about or a competitor’s patent you had not seen.
A novelty search before filing helps you judge whether an application is likely to succeed and how broad your claims can realistically be. The results can then inform your wider patent strategy, helping you decide whether, where and how to pursue protection.
A freedom to operate search before launch helps you assess the risk of infringing existing rights. Where potentially relevant patents are identified, our patent infringement and protection team can help you understand the risk and your options.
In both cases, a modest spend on searching can save a great deal later.
Results You Can Actually Use
A list of patent documents is only useful if someone can tell you what it means. The value of a search lies in the analysis, understanding which references matter, how they relate to your invention or product, and what you should do about them.
Our team combines thorough searching with clear, plain-English interpretation. You receive not just results, but advice: whether to proceed, how to position your claims, whether to design around a competitor’s patent, or where a challenge might succeed. That is what turns a search into a decision.
Where physical products are involved, our Infringement Lab can provide further practical evidence and patent feature mapping to support freedom to operate and infringement decision-making. Panoramix specifically positions the Infringement Lab as supporting patent landscaping, FTO decisions and competitor monitoring.
Speak to our team on 01522 712 433 or email info@panoramixip.co.uk to get started.
FAQs
What is a patent search?
A patent search reviews published patents and other technical literature to answer a specific question, such as whether an invention is new, whether a product might infringe existing patents, or whether a particular patent is valid.
Different questions call for different types of search, which we help you choose between. If your aim is to protect a new invention, the results can also feed directly into your wider patent strategy and filing decisions.
What is the difference between a novelty search and a freedom to operate search?
A novelty, or patentability, search checks whether your invention is new and inventive over the prior art, informing whether to file and how broadly. A freedom to operate search checks whether making or selling your product would infringe patents that are still in force.
They answer different questions and are often both worthwhile at different stages. A novelty search is particularly relevant before you file a patent application, while FTO analysis becomes increasingly important as a product moves towards commercial launch.
Do I need a search before filing a patent?
It is not compulsory, but it is usually money well spent. A novelty search helps you judge the likelihood of success, avoid investing in an application that is unlikely to be granted, and draft claims that are targeted around the existing prior art. It gives you a much clearer basis for deciding whether and how to file.
Panoramix’s Patent Application & Filing service incorporates patentability considerations and relevant prior art into the process of identifying the aspects of an invention most likely to deliver meaningful protection.
Can a search guarantee my invention is patentable?
No search can be exhaustive. Some applications are unpublished for a period, and no database covers everything. A good search substantially reduces uncertainty and highlights the most relevant prior art, but it provides an informed assessment rather than an absolute guarantee.
Where the results support proceeding, we can use them to inform your patent strategy and the way your application is drafted and positioned.
What is a freedom to operate search for?
It identifies in-force patents that your proposed product or process might infringe, so you can address the risk before launch, for example by designing around a patent, seeking a licence, or challenging its validity. It is a key step in avoiding costly disputes after you have gone to market.
If a search identifies a potentially problematic patent, our patent infringement and protection team can assess the position and help you decide how to respond. For physical products, our Infringement Lab can also support patent feature mapping and FTO decision-making.
Can you search for prior art to challenge a competitor’s patent?
Yes. An invalidity search looks specifically for prior art that predates a target patent and could be used to argue that it lacks novelty or inventive step, supporting an opposition or a validity challenge.
This can be a powerful tool where a competitor’s patent is standing in your way. Where the issue has already developed into an infringement dispute, our patent infringement and protection team can help coordinate the search findings with the wider enforcement or defence strategy.
How much does a patent search cost?
It depends on the type and depth of search and the complexity of the technology. A focused novelty check is very different from a comprehensive freedom to operate study.
We will recommend the right level of search for the decision you need to make and give you a clear estimate up front. Where searching forms part of a broader protection project, we can also help you develop a patent strategy that balances the scope of the work against the commercial value of the invention.
Client Testimonials
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Our Case Studies
Case Study: British American Tobacco
Case Study: Cambridge Mechatronics
Case Study: The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys
Case Study: Wow Hydrate
Case Study: The Earthshot Prize
Case Study: Escape Fitness
