Patent search services
What Is a Patent Search?
Patent searching is the process of researching existing and published patent applications. It helps businesses find information about inventions, technologies, and ownership of intellectual property rights.
Different subtypes of patent search services exist, including:
Patentability Search
Otherwise known as “Prior Art”, patentability searches involve examining existing information to see if an invention is brand new and stands on its own. This process assesses an invention’s eligibility for patent protection on novelty and similar factors.
Freedom-To-Operate (FTO) Search
A notoriously difficult process, the FTO search is vital to make sure a new product or service isn’t infringing on any third party’s patents. It is a complicated process due to the overlapping nature of many patents across industries.
Landscape Search
Patent landscape searches help businesses and inventors understand what application strategies competitors know, as well as which technologies are growing in popularity and which are waning.
Patent Monitoring
When you own a patent, it’s vital to make sure it’s not being violated. As part of maintenance of granted patents, people and companies alike need to keep eyes on how others may be using their creations.
Patent Search Specialists in Key Sectors
Energy, Engineering and Consumer Products
Engineering projects and consumer technologies often clash with existing patents. Having engineering and consumer product patent search services help you identify conflicts early, avoid redesigns, and protect commercial timelines.
Chemistry, Pharmaceuticals and Advanced Materials
Chemical and pharmaceutical innovation carries high regulatory and competitive pressure. That’s why it’s vital to have experts help with chemistry patent searches, alongside more niche areas such as pharmaceuticals and drug patent searches.
Medicine and Life Sciences
Life sciences teams frequently struggle with overlapping research fields and crowded patent spaces. Scientific patent search support helps you uncover risks, validate novelty, and progress safely through development stages.
Computing, Electronics & Physics
Rapid innovation in software, electronics and physics can lead to accidental overlap with existing rights. Our computing patent search and electronics patent search services help you navigate fast-moving IP environments and minimise exposure to infringement.
Trade Marks & Branding
Brand-led sectors often face confusion around ownership and similarity. Working with a trade mark search service helps you avoid conflict, protect your brand assets, and launch with confidence.
Meet our Experts
Alex is a fully qualified UK and European Patent Attorney and a Patent Attorney Litigator. She is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and is a registered professional representative at the European Patent Office and the Unified Patents Court.
Alex joined Bailey Walsh & Co LLP in 1998 and became a partner of the Firm in 2005. She holds a BA in Natural Sciences and a PhD in Medical Physiology & Biochemical Pathways, both from Cambridge University. Alex has been awarded a number of academic prizes for achievement both at University and in her professional career.
Alex has an excellent grounding in a wide range of scientific disciplines including biochemistry, chemistry, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, genetics, microbiology and cell biology. Although Alex’s academic background has been largely in the field of biotechnology and life sciences, she has gained substantial experience in the technical fields of electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as telecommunications, having drafted and prosecuted patent applications in these sectors for over 25 years. Alex advises on patent, design, trade mark and copyright issues.
Alex has a depth of experience in representing clients at Opposition proceedings at the European Patent Office, and also at the UK Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO). Alex works closely with lawyers in the UK and abroad in both the enforcement and defence of our clients’ patent rights.
Alexandra Tomkinson
Graham is a fully qualified UK and European Patent Attorney and a Patent Attorney Litigator. He is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys and is a registered representative at the European Patent Office and the Unified Patents Court.
Graham joined Bailey Walsh & Co LLP in 1990 and became a partner of the Firm in 1997. He holds a Masters of Engineering degree from The University of Strathclyde.
Having gained experience in all Intellectual Property matters, Graham deals with patents and provides detailed advice in this field. His work ranges from the prosecution of new patent applications to the provision of specific advice for prosecution strategies in the UK, Europe and across the world, having had extensive experience of patent procedures in the European, United States, Japan, China, Eurasian, and African Regional and International Patent Systems.
Graham represents many clients at Opposition and Appeal Proceedings at the European Patent Office and works closely with lawyers in the UK and abroad in both the enforcement and defence of patents. He is also extensively involved in advising on patent licensing issues, the assessment of the value of third party patent portfolios and the development of strategies to allow clients to generate patent portfolios to develop income streams is also an important area of his expertise.
Graham Wood
David is a fully qualified UK and European Patent Attorney, as well as a fully qualified UK Trade Mark Attorney and Patent Attorney Litigator. He is a fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, a Member of The Chartered Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys and is a registered representative at the European Patent Office and the Unified Patents Court.
David entered the profession in 2009, joined Bailey Walsh & Co LLP in early 2012, and became a partner of the firm in January 2020. David holds an MChem (Hons.) degree in Chemistry from Durham University where he gained a very good understanding of all areas of Chemistry. Prior to entering the IP profession, David gained industrial experience in the pharmaceuticals sector working for one of the world’s leading drug development companies. While studying at university, David also gained further academic experience in particle science and engineering working each summer with PhD groups in the engineering department of Leeds University.
David’s patent work covers a broad range of technologies, with a focus predominantly on mechanical and engineering patent matters, drafting patent applications and prosecuting them through to grant, advising and aiding clients with their international filing strategies, and representing clients in opposition and appeal proceedings at the European Patent Office. David’s trade mark qualifications complement his patent work and enable him to provide “full picture” advice to his clients.
David Corbyn
Simon is a part-qualified patent attorney and is currently training to become a fully qualified Chartered UK and European Patent Attorney. He is a student member of The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA). Simon was the Course Representative for the Intellectual Property Law Graduate Certificate Course and is currently the Yorkshire Regional Secretary for the CIPA Informals, which represents trainees in the Yorkshire region.
Simon joined Bailey Walsh & Co LLP in early 2022. He holds an MEng (Hons.) degree in Mechanical Engineering from Newcastle University, specialising in telemetry and biomechanical engineering. Simon also has industrial experience in design engineering, and commercial experience in Digital and Forensic Investigations within the Legal Technology Sector.
Simon aids the qualified attorneys in IP formalities, patent drafting, International filings and litigation.
Simon Woods
Our Patent Search Process
When it comes to our patent search service, the process is key to success. Whether it’s for a novelty search, covering European design patents, or investigating international patents we take a comprehensive approach every time.
Successful Patent Search Outcomes
Client Testimonials
We have an excellent working relationship with Bailey Walsh
Director
Director , UK healthcare company
As is often the case, we need a lot of hand-holding through the legal processes, which Bailey Walsh are more than happy to do.
Director
Director , Toy design and innovation specialists
Investors have complimented the strength of the patent work
Director
Director , Healthcare startup
Patent Search FAQs
You can search patents yourself, but professional patent search offers a thorough review including factors such as legal claims and non-patent literature, as well as having further insight and legal expertise essential for assessing if an application is viable or if it is an infringement risk.
Prices can vary depending on different factors, including scope and depth, complexity of the invention and geographical location. An international patent search will require more work than a regional one, for instance. Prices can start from x, and scale to y, but an exact price will be discussed on an individual basis.
Databases include patent searching sites such as:
- UKIPO Patent Search Database
- Google Patent Search
- Espacenet
Others may also be used as part of our patent search process.
A UK patent protects the inventive concept, while a European design patent protects the aesthetic look of the registered design.
One of the key steps includes carrying out a prior art search, which includes existing patents, published applications, and other technical literature to determine whether an invention is already known.
