Are free, instant patentability searches the future? Inventors and Service Providers - I believe we're on the cusp of a major shift in how we conduct patentability searches. I envision that soon, the Patent Offices across the globe may offer free, instant search services. This sounds strange, but I have reasons to believe that this may happen in the future. Imagine submitting your invention disclosure and getting a detailed search report right away. It would be like using an ATM for patent information. You input your idea, and out comes your search results! Here's what this future might look like: 1. Government-run machine learning platform-driven free and accurate searches replace third-party providers. 2. AI and machine learning produce fast, accurate results; and 3. Search quality improves over time as systems learn. I say this because we're already seeing progress in this direction. The UK Intellectual Property Office has introduced 'SEARCH', an AI-driven tool based on European Patent Office technology. It helps examiners conduct more thorough and efficient searches. Presently its not accessible to the general public, but nothing stops them from doing so. For Inventors - this shift could lead to, faster innovation cycles and lower costs, For Patent Offices - this shift could lead to higher-quality patent grants. For Service Providers - they may need to adapt and focus on analysis and strategy more. Thoughts?
TOMEK
6mo
The prospect of leveraging AI for instant patentability searches could revolutionize the innovation process, making it more accessible and efficient for inventors worldwide.
Interesting! But I still see this more as a supportive tool. We all know well that a fair deal of "invention" also happens at the drafting stage, in terms of claims that can provide effective protection from competition. I can certainly say that in pharma & lifesciences, a lot more is achieved through intelligent claim drafting.
Tejas Welankiwar
6mo
Using AI for patent searching can enhance efficiency and domain analysis reducing much time and efforts. However, for thorough searches and patentability opinions that encompass all inventive aspects and to understand the inventor/client's approach, professional expertise and human judgment may still be necessary. Although I think AI tools are significantly improving by learning and becoming more accessible each day, they might be a integral part of the search strategies in every PTOs over the course of time. But the question might still remain "Is depending on AI prudent?"
Sangeetha B
5mo
While the vision of free and instant patentability searches is persuasive, there are vital reasons that I believe, why this might not be the most feasible. For example, 1) the value of human expertise can never be underestimated 2) disclosing sensitive invention disclosures to a government-run AI system possibly raises significant concerns about data security and confidentiality 3) AI-driven search platform that is both free and accessible to the public would require substantial investment. Governments may face budgetary constraints making it challenging to allocate the necessary resources.
I help clients create and manage their US Patent Portfolios | Master's in IP Management | B.E. Electrical Engg. (Views are personal)
6moWon't work this way, in my opinion. In my experience, the majority of revenues that a PTO generates is fee for examination of applications (office actions, extensions, RCEs, appeals, etc.). If the barrier to entry is made difficult by providing detailed searches, the number of patent applications (especially ones that would straightaway be discouraged by such searches) will drastically reduce. This would be detrimental to the PTO's revenue. I believe it will be a private provider that will come up with a search solution and the government will always keep enhancing their tools to cater to the Examiners.