Derwent research guides
You need to search for prior art to find out if your invention is novel and patentable. You have a description of the invention, but you may be unfamiliar with the technical language. Derwent Innovation gives you the tools you need to easily research prior art and review the patents most closely related to your invention.
Distill your invention into key concepts and terms
OR
TIP:
Entering a block of text in Smart Search will automatically extract keywords to run in the search. This is a great way to develop an initial keyword list. Consider incorporating truncation operators (? or *) into the keywords for a Boolean search in the Title/Abstract/Claims field or text fields.
Expand to a global search
A novelty search will examine all known art, so it is best to run the most comprehensive search in the global patent literature.
Develop a concentrated fielded search query
Use classification codes to supplement keywords
Classification codes broaden your search to include relevant patents which might not contain your initial key terms:
TIP
Use the Preview / Edit Query box to add extra parenthesis ( ) around any fields to be searched in the disjunctive with the OR operator. Click Check Syntax to confirm correct parentheses balancing and then click Search.
Collapse by Family to deduplicate result list
An invention may be patented under many different authorities. Collapse your results by DWPI or INPADOC family so you can focus on one record for each invention:
Customize your result list columns for faster review
Column and Sorting Tip:
Consider displaying the DWPI Title for faster review of the inventions in your result set.
Sort by the Relevancy field to display the Smart Search score or number of hits based on your keywords for Boolean searches.
Review result list and optionally narrow search
Identify similar inventions in the record view
Click the hyperlinked publication number for relevant records to open the record view to see full details about the patent.
Save highly relevant records to Work Files
Save particularly relevant patents to Work Files for deeper review, search modification, or export.
TIP:
Once you have created the Work File for this project, you can save to Existing Work Files and the top 5 most recent Work Files will be listed in the drop-down. All other Work Files will be listed in alphabetically below.
Export data to perform offline, in-depth analysis
Derwent Innovation lets you export data in numerous formats, including Excel, to perform automated analysis offline that you can share with colleagues or clients.
Highlighting Tip:
Search result exports will automatically highlight keywords in colored text in Excel. Exporting results from a Work File will not include highlighting unless you activate My Terms under the Highlighting options menu.