Patentability Search Services to Check Novelty Before Filing
Know if your invention is truly new before you invest in patent drafting or filing. Our patentability search (also called a novelty search) compares your invention against existing patents, applications, and prior art — giving you a structured patentability search report with novelty analysis and clear filing guidance.
What Is a Patentability Search?
A patentability search — also called a novelty search — checks whether your invention appears new before you file a patent application. It compares your invention against existing patents, published applications, and technical literature to find prior art that may already cover similar features.
A strong search goes beyond keyword matching: it reviews the closest references, highlights your invention’s strong and weak points, and gives practical filing recommendations — so you can move into provisional, non-provisional, or PCT filing with confidence.
Who Needs Patentability Search Services?
Patentability search services are for inventors, startups, founders, R&D teams, universities, product teams, and businesses that want clarity before filing a patent application. This service is ideal if you are:
- Inventors who want to check if an invention appears novel before filing.
- Startups preparing for provisional or non-provisional patent applications.
- R&D teams validating technical concepts before larger development investment.
- Businesses comparing new product ideas with existing patent activity.
- Founder preparing for investors, licensing discussions, or product launch.
- Applicant who want a professional patent search report before moving into patent drafting.
What You Gain from a Patentability Search
A patentability search helps you understand if your invention is truly novel, so you can avoid costly mistakes and make better filing decisions.
Save Costs
Avoid investing in patent applications that are unlikely to succeed.
Identify Strong Features
Focus on the most valuable and claimable aspects of your invention.
Assess Inventive Step
Understand how your invention compares with existing prior art.
Improve Filing Strategy
Make smarter decisions before drafting and filing your patent.
When Do You Need This?
Before Filing Applications
Before international filing
During R&D planning
Before a product launch or investor discussion
Our Patentability Search Process
Understand Your Invention
We review your invention disclosure, technical features, drawings, use cases, and known alternatives.
Define the Search Scope
We identify the important keywords, patent classifications, technical concepts, jurisdictions, and search boundaries.
Search Patent Databases
We search patent databases such as USPTO, EPO, WIPO, CNIPA, KIPO, JPO, Google Patents, and other relevant sources.
Search Non-Patent Literature
We review scientific publications, journals, standards, technical papers, product disclosures, and other non-patent sources where relevant.
Identify and Rank Prior Art
We shortlist the closest references and rank them by relevance to your invention.
Analyze Novelty and Filing Risk
We compare the invention against the closest references and identify possible novelty, obviousness, and claim-scope concerns.
Prepare the Patentability Search Report
You receive a structured report with prior art references, analysis, claim insights, and filing recommendations.
Sample Report Snapshot
Explore our sample patentability reports to see our thorough examination and insights.
Databases We Search
The exact search scope depends on the technology and filing goal. A professional patentability search may include paid databases, public patent databases, and non-patent literature sources.
Paid Databases
- Derwent Innovation
- Patdel Analytics
- PatSnap
- Patent Inspiration
Free Databases
- USPTO
- EPO
- WIPO
- Google Patents
- CNIPA
- PQAI
- KIPO
- DPMA
Non-Patents
- IEEE
- ScienceDirect
- Google Scholar
- PubMed
- Google Web Search
- ACM Digital Library
- Citesee
- Sci-Hub
- Elsevier
- Science.gov
- Google Books
- Researchgate
- Internet Archive
- ISO Standard
- FCC Id database
- Semantic Scholar
- Escholarship
- Caltech Thesis
- Stanford Librarie
- Univ. of Texas Libraries
- Ohio Link
Deliverables
- Patentability Search Report - Detailed report with relevant prior art
- Novelty Analysis - Summary Clear comparison of your invention vs existing art
- Claim Insights - Identify strong and weak areas
- Filing Recommendations - Guidance for provisional or non-provisional filing
Why Choose Novel Patent Services?
100% Confidentiality
Your invention details are handled securely and professionally.
Flat Pricing
You receive transparent pricing before the search begins.
18+ Years of Excellence
NPS has supported inventors, startups, and businesses across patent research and filing workflows.
150+ Patent Experts
Our team supports inventions across engineering, biotech, software, electronics, mechanical systems, chemistry, and other technical fields.
What Our Clients Say
Before You File, Know Where You Stand
Filing a patent application without checking prior art can lead to wasted budget, weak claims, and avoidable rejection risk. A professional patentability search gives you a clearer view before you invest in patent drafting and filing.
If you are preparing to file a provisional patent application, non-provisional patent application, PCT application, or another patent filing, start with a novelty search and patentability report.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a novelty search patent?
A search that checks whether your invention appears new before filing, by comparing it against existing patents, published applications, and technical literature.
What is the difference between novelty search and patentability search?
A novelty search checks if your invention is new. A patentability search goes further — it also assesses inventive step, analyzes prior art, and gives filing recommendations. The terms are often used interchangeably.
Is a patentability search required before filing?
No, it’s not legally required — but it’s strongly recommended. It stops you spending money filing an invention that may not be novel.
Can I do a provisional patent search before filing?
Yes. Running a patentability search before a provisional application tells you whether your invention appears novel, so you can file with confidence.
What is included in a patentability search report?
The closest prior art references, a comparison against your invention, a novelty and inventive-step analysis, and clear filing recommendations.
What databases are used for patent search services?
Paid databases (Derwent, PatSnap), free patent databases (USPTO, EPO, WIPO, Google Patents), and non-patent literature (IEEE, ScienceDirect, PubMed). The mix depends on your technology.
How does a prior art search help before filing?
It shows what already exists in your field — helping you confirm novelty, write stronger claims, and avoid wasting money on applications unlikely to succeed.
Contact Us
Get in touch with our patent experts to discuss your needs.