Market research: why it should be considered before or during the search for prior art

An invention is a set of ideas and thoughts to facilitate the way people carry out their daily tasks. An Inventor can be a company or an individual who has a goal behind the invention. It takes a lot of money to introduce the invention to the world, so investors who find it interesting fund R&D.

The invention process is very broad. There is no fixed time when an invention becomes useful products. It can take 5, 10 years or even more. The R&D department performs a series of operations one after another: it outlines the business vision, creates strategies, describes R&D processes, identifies resources, and writes designs. R&D teams extensively study all areas of invention, collect different ideas, which are then combined to create products and services. Thus, the research for the development of the invention comprises a wide range of processes, which require thousands or millions of dollars.

patent an invention

An invention is patented to prevent others from stealing it. The inventor can restrict the use of his invention by individuals and companies to make or sell products during his life. When filing a patent application, the inventor must mention a set of claims, which he must choose carefully. Therefore, it is recommended to know the market trends, new technologies, applications, etc. when carrying out R&D operations, which will help to obtain large claims.

An invention can only be patented if it does not contain any part of the previously patented technology and meets certain uniqueness standards. To find out if your invention is already known or not, search for the state of the art It is driven. The innovator can carry out the search for the state of the art on his own account or hire an expert for this purpose.

What is prior art search?

Prior art search can be defined as the gathering of information about the technologies associated with the invention. Its main objective is to know if the invention is patentable or not. Prior art search sources include prior patents, registered patents, scientific reports, research papers, textbooks, newspapers, magazines, and Internet postings. There are many inventions that are never used in products and services, and these too must be considered during the patent application process. A wide range of tools are available on the Internet that can help you perform an efficient prior art search.

Searching for prior art can provide details about previous inventions in the field, new products and services, etc. It prevents reinventing existing inventions. With this, the R&D department can learn about existing technologies, and focus activities, processes and tasks to innovate or investigate new ones.

Know the market well before conducting prior art research

The main objective is to get the invention patented with the broadest possible claims. The search for the state of the art gathers the existing knowledge in the fields that belong to the invention. But this is not enough. You must know the market and the companies that are already working on the technologies on which the invention is based, which will help you choose the right areas for R&D.

Filing a patent is a vast process, and a small misstep can turn into a big mistake. Therefore, from planning to execution, each step must be taken wisely. Before searching for prior art, it is important to know the markets in which the invention can create a revolution, the current market trends to focus on, the activities of competitors, etc. All these details can be obtained through market research. Therefore, it is recommended to first carry out market research to know the technologies that are trending in the market.

Why market research?

Market research can help in the proper use of all the elements of an invention. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the different markets associated with the invention, the patent environment, and existing and future products. Thus, market research can add value to research and development operations, making them more advanced.

There are many reasons why an inventor should consider market research before beginning R&D and prior art searches. Please take a look at them –

Detailed information about the markets:

Market research reports not only provide information about the different markets that belong to the area of ​​invention, but also inform about the main active markets. Suppose an invention can be used to make products in 10 different industries, 7 of which are in the growth phase. Therefore, it is necessary to spend more time and money to obtain patents in these 7 industries for maximum ROI. Therefore, market research reports can suggest you the right industries to further research and create products.

Competitor analysis:

To emerge as a leading player in the market, it is necessary to know the activities of the competitors. With market research reports, the inventor can gain a deep understanding of their competitors, the technologies they are working on, and their existing and future products and services. Thus, the R&D department can expand its research to areas not touched by competitors.

Help in drafting patents:

The patent writer is the person who can help you obtain a patent with large claims. With extensive knowledge of market trends, active industries, and customer needs, he is able to draft the broadest possible patent claims. Therefore, with market research reports, your patent writer can prepare a clear and precise patent application and obtain a patent, which will have great market value and you can earn a lot from it.

Best players:

Market research reports provide information on the main companies that use technologies similar to those of the invention. This makes it easier to know how advanced the invention is, the technologies that can be innovated, and how to plan R&D processes. After obtaining the patent with significant claims, the inventor can contact major companies for trade associations or licenses.