What it is: Prior art is a summary of the knowledge already in existence about an invention. Prior art searching is a compulsory part of the patent examination process.

Why it's important: Knowing that an invention is already patented is important because it will:

• Save you precious R&D time and funding
• Protect you from bringing a product to market later than your competitor
• Keep you from launching a product that is inferior when compared to the competition

You may also wish to take advantage of our patentability, infringement and validity searches, which incorporate interpretation by experienced patent examiners.