Before you register a patent you need to do some basic research.

Not only is it the job of the United States Patent Office to issue patents, it also maintains a database of the patents that have been granted. The majority of patents issued by the Patent and Trademark Office are utility patents. With such a large amount of these patents issued yearly, it is necessary for the inventor to research whether someone else has already patented their newest invention.

A search of previous patents can be done in a variety of ways. These methods include accessing the Patent and Trademark database by searching online or going to the library of the USPTO and completing a patent search there. When visiting the USPTO, the patent database is available on microfiche, paper, and CD-ROM.

An initial search on the government patent website can show if the patent has already been released for the product you plan to apply for. By doing this search, you reduce the risk of wasting your time putting in an application for an item that has already been patented. Another reason to consider using the patent database for research when submitting an application is that it can help reduce the time taken for your application to be processed. The Patent Officer looking at your application file will have an easier time when they search the database, and discover no other patents exist. This might speed up the approval process on your application.

Using the online search tool is great if you have a patent that is easy to find. If you are not located within driving distance of the Patent Office, it is possible to request lists of patents be sent to your home address, though there is a fee for this service.

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