QUESTION
How does one find out if a patent already exists?
Asked on Apr 29th, 2015 on Patents - California
More details to this question:
I have a wood toy puzzle that I would like to patent. But I need to know if there is already one in existence. How do I find this out?
4 ANSWERS
Intellectual Property Attorney serving South Jordan, UT
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Pearson Butler
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Have a basic patent screening search done by a law firm or a search firm. Plan on spending about $600-$2000 depending on the search and who you go with.
Answered on Apr 30th, 2015 at 10:30 AM
Search the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's web site (uspto.gov) A complete list of the patents that have been granted in the U.S. can be found there.
Answered on Apr 30th, 2015 at 8:56 AM
Appellate Litigation Attorney serving Boston, MA
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Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
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Patent searching can be difficult for the general public - but it is free to do. There are professionals you can hire to do it for you. Check out the Patent Office website - www.uspto.gov where you can conduct "key word" searching. You can also search using the "Google patents" website - www.google.com/patents where you can conduct "key word" searching. There are many other sites for searching - but these two are popular. Just because you don't find a patent on your idea - does not mean that you can get a patent. Your invention must be new, useful and not obvious to a person skilled in the field of the invention - based on what was already known.
Answered on Apr 30th, 2015 at 7:50 AM
You do or pay for a patent search.
Answered on Apr 30th, 2015 at 2:38 AM