A art search for a utility model is a process of checking whether a utility model is already protected by an existing patent. This helps determine if a utility model can be patented and if intellectual property rights are available.
Prior art search process:
- Define the utility model to be patented;
- Search databases: such as the European Patent Office (EPO); the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO);
- Use search tools: such as similarity search algorithms; patent classifications;
- Analyze the results: to determine if an existing patent already protects a utility model;
- Assess the risks: the risks of conflicts with existing patents to decide on continuation or dispossession.
