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What is a patent search?
Patent searching is the process of researching previous patents relevant to a specific invention or idea.
Before beginning to build a prototype of your invention, you should do a patent search to ensure that your idea has not already been patented.
Searching for prior patents relevant to your own invention helps you demonstrate how you have distinguished your invention from previous inventions.
Patent searches are essential because during the patent application process, you must submit the findings of your patent search with your patent application.
Failing to conduct a comprehensive patent search could result in the validity of your patent being challenged in the future.