Patent Search Services That Help You File With Confidence
Most people file without knowing whether their idea is truly new — and it costs them everything. One expert patent search from Novel Patent Services gives you the clarity to move forward, or pivot, before you commit.
Who This Service Is For
Built for innovators who need clear patent search insight before filing, launching, or investing further.
Inventors
Validate new ideas before filing. Reduce rejection risk.
Startups
Avoid costly IP mistakes before launch. Secure investor confidence.
Businesses
Assess competitors, prior art, and white space. Guide R&D strategy.
The Risk No Innovator Should Take
Filing a patent without a prior art search is one of the most preventable — and costly — mistakes in innovation. Every week, innovators come to us after months of work, only to receive a Final Office Action citing a patent that already existed. Others launch, attract investors, build a team — then receive a cease-and-desist. Not because they were careless. Because they didn’t know.
With a Professional Patent Search From NPS
You file knowing exactly where your invention stands — with confidence, clarity, and zero surprises. That is what we deliver.
We Help You File, Launch, and Protect With Confidence
We know the anxiety of wondering whether your idea is already out there. We know the fear of sharing your concept before it’s protected. We’ve been here for 18 years — and we take that weight seriously.
Our team of 150+ specialists combines AI-assisted scanning with expert human analysis, searching what automated tools miss — non-patent literature, foreign filings, and unpublished applications. The result is not just a report. It is a clear answer and a strategy for what to do next.
What Type of Patent Search Do You Need?
Patentability / Novelty Search
Invalidation / Opposition Search
Patent Landscape Analysis
Patent Infringement Search
Freedom-to-Operate (FTO) Search
How a Patent Search Reduces Risk Before Filing or Launch
A patent search helps you reduce filing risk, avoid infringement issues, understand competitors, and make stronger IP decisions before you commit more time or money.
Validate novelty before filing
Know whether your invention appears new before you spend on drafting and filing.
Reduce infringement risk
Identify patents that could create legal or commercial obstacles before you move forward.
Understand competitor activity
See who is filing in your space and where innovation is moving.
Make smarter IP decisions
Use patent data to guide filing strategy, product direction, and investment decisions.
How Our Patent Search Process Works
A simple 4-step process to help you get clear patent search insights and next-step guidance.
01
Brief us
Tell us about your idea in plain language. NDA signed before we review anything — your idea stays protected from the very first conversation.
02
We Assign Your Specialist
Your search is handled by an analyst with a degree in your technology field — not a generalist, not an algorithm.
03
Deep-Dive Search
We search USPTO, WIPO, EPO, CNIPA and 100+ databases – including non-patent literature that free tools don’t index.
04
Report + Strategy Call
Detailed findings in Word/PDF + Excel dataset. Then a 30-minute walkthrough with your assigned analyst — file, amend, redesign, or proceed.
What You Receive After Every Search
Search Reports (Word/PDF)
Prior art summaries, novelty grids, risk ratings, and strategic recommendations — the complete picture of your invention's position.
Datasets (Excel)
Every relevant patent indexed with classification codes, legal status, and direct links — ready for your attorney.
Consultation Call
A walkthrough with your assigned analyst — covering every finding and leaving you with a clear action plan: file, amend, redesign, or proceed.
Not sure what a professional search looks like? See one before you commit.
Why Patent Professionals Choose NPS
18+ years of IP research
Trusted by inventors, startups, and Fortune 500 R&D teams across 40+ technology domains.
150+ domain specialists
Each assigned to your technology field — not a generalist, not an algorithm.
100+ databases
We find the prior art that free tools don't index.
Fixed pricing. Full confidentiality
Transparent quote before work begins. NDA signed before review. Zero surprises.
Frequently Asked Questions
A patent search examines existing patents and publications worldwide to determine if your invention is novel. It matters because it reveals whether your idea is patentable, identifies infringement risks, and prevents you from wasting money on a doomed application.
Anyone filing a patent or launching a product. Specifically: inventors validating new ideas, startups preparing for funding, businesses reducing legal risks, law firms seeking reliable search support, and R&D teams understanding the competitive landscape.
A novelty search determines if your invention can be patented. An FTO (Freedom-to-Operate) search determines if you can sell your product without infringing existing patents. Novelty looks backward at prior art; FTO looks at currently active patents.
A patentability search is done before filing to see if your idea is new. An invalidation search is done after a patent is granted to find prior art that challenges its validity. One is proactive; the other is reactive for litigation or opposition.
Most searches are completed in 5–10 business days. Rush delivery is available for time-sensitive filings. Landscape analyses typically take 2–4 weeks depending on scope.
Cost depends on search type and technology complexity. We provide a transparent, fixed-price quote before any work begins — no hourly billing, no hidden charges.
A description of your invention, key features or claims, any drawings or photos, and any prior searches you've conducted. The more detail you provide, the more precise your results.
A detailed report (Word/PDF) with prior art summaries and risk ratings, a structured dataset (Excel) with patent references and links, and a 30-minute strategy call to walk through findings and next steps.
You can start there, but professional searches go deeper. We use advanced Boolean logic, classification codes, and non-patent literature (journals, conference papers) that free tools miss. An automated search gives you a list; a professional search gives you a verdict and strategy.
Finding prior art is good news — it saves you from a doomed application. We explain what the prior art covers, identify distinguishing features, and give you a roadmap to amend claims or redesign around it.
No — final approval is up to the patent examiner. However, applicants who file with a comprehensive prior art search have substantially better outcomes because their claims are drafted with full knowledge of the existing landscape.
Start Your Patent Search Today
Tell us what you need to evaluate, and our team will recommend the right patent search scope and next steps.
Confidential inquiry | Fast response from our team | Suitable for US and international search needs
Related Resources
Helpful guides on patent search, prior art, and filing decisions.
How to Conduct a Patentability Search – A Step-by-step guide for start-ups and inventors
When Can Startups Use ‘Patent Pending’? The Essential Guide
How Startups Protect Their Brand: U.S. Trademark Filing Guide
How to File an International Patent: PCT & Paris Convention Guide
How to Reduce Patent Filing Costs: Tips for Independent Inventors
