Patent searches are performed for a variety of
reasons. These range from determining whether an invention is
patentable (Patentability Search), determining whether one can
manufacture a product (Infringement Search) and determining the
level of technology within a given field (State-of-the-art Search).
In all patent protection processes, it is very important to
establish novelty. A patent search may be conducted to evaluate the
state of the art or to determine whether or not an invention may be
patentable. Although a patent search is not a requirement, it is
usually a very good idea at any stage of the inventive process.
Advantages of having a patent search conducted are:
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Researching whether the invention is novel or no obvious
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Identifying similar inventions to design around
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Reducing the likelihood of patent infringement and its
consequences
A basic patent search is an important tool for
any inventor seeking to protect his invention in Malta. Patent
registers in Malta are compiled manually. This can result in a very
cumbersome procedure for any inventor who is trying to locate any
interesting invention or information on a particular subject matter.
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