Methods to Improve Your Patent Search

Instructor: Matthew Rodgers

Methods to Improve Your Patent Search is a three-module Video on Demand course broken into two different videos. The first module covers "Search Mechanics and Searching for Patentability," the second module covers "Searching for Validity or Invalidity," and the final module in this series covers "Searching for Infringement, Clearance, or Freedom to Operate." Read more about each module and purchase them below.



This three-module Video on Demand course is designed to introduce or enhance the knowledge of patent attorneys and agents, inventors, paralegals and research managers on how to conduct a professional patent search.  Patent searching is both an art and a science, and search capability improves with practice.  But, optimum practice requires a solid foundation for those who seek to conduct searches accurately and efficiently.  This course teaches when, how, where and why to conduct a search and is appropriate for those who will conduct the search or commission it.

The course was designed and written by twelve experienced patent information specialists with expertise in both English and foreign language searching.  It is taught by Matthew Rodgers, Vice President of Patent Searching and Analytics, Landon IP, and a former patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  Unlike courses that are taught by competing database providers, these modules are not tied to a particular search engine, a database product or a patent information service.  Instead, the instructor teaches skills that are applicable across databases, both proprietary and public, and without bias toward the features of a particular search engine.

Published April 2009.

Methods to Improve Your Patent Search Module 1: Search Mechanics and Searching for Patentability

Price: $130.00

Projected State Bar CLE Credit: 1.0 hour (See state level details below)

Course available online only

 

 

Upon completion of Module 1: Search Mechanics and Searching for Patentability, the viewer will have learned:

  • How to approach a search in a systematic, methodical and exhaustive way. 
  • How to properly scope the search before even beginning.
  • How to carefully search by classification, text query progression and citations, knowing the benefits and pitfalls of each.
  • How to systematically evaluate references.
  • Issues unique to searching within specific technical disciplines.
  • Approaches to searching non-English-language patents and published applications.
  • Approaches to searching non-patent literature.
  • Approaches to reporting search results.

Purchase Module 1 from our storefront.

State Level CLE Information:

PRG works closely with CLE states to obtain state bar credit for our Video on Demand Courses.  We are currently in the process of obtaining state credit for this course in numerous states, so please check back if your state is not listed, or email us at cleadmin@patentresources.com and we will notify you when your state is active.

The course materials (lecture slides, textbook and course evaluation form) will be available for you to view and/or download when you access your purchased Video on Demand course in the VOD player.  Please note that the course evaluation form is required for CLE or CPD credit.  Once you have completed viewing your VOD course, please fill out the course evaluation form, enter the CLE codes (a six-character code in red font in the lower left corner of a slide in each section), and check the self-certification boxes.  Email the completed evaluation form to cleadmin@patentresources.com.  PRG will provide you with a certificate of completion and will file your paperwork with the state within 10 business days.

Please note that some states limit the number of hours that attorneys can participate in self-study activities to obtain CLE credit. Rules vary by state, so please check your state rules. 

If you have any questions about the CLE process for our Video on Demand courses, please send your questions to cleadmin@patentresources.com.

This course (Modules 1, 2 and 3) is approved for CLE credit in the following states:

California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Texas

Upon request, we will submit this course for CLE approval in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.



Methods to Improve Your Patent Search: Module 2 and Module 3

Price:  $130.00

Projected State Bar CLE Credit: 1.0 hour (See state level details below)

Course available online only

 

 

This Video on Demand course comprises the second and third modules of Methods to Improve Your Patent Search. 

Upon completion of Module 2: Searching for Validity or Invalidity, the viewer will have learned:

  • Both the major differences and subtle nuances in the steps of conducting validity searches. 
  • How to identify unique claimed subject features.
  • How to determine the critical date.
  • How to investigate the prosecution history to improve your search strategy.
  • How to interpret claims, giving them their broadest reasonable interpretation.Tips on evaluating and reporting references

Upon completion of Module 3: Searching for Infringement, Clearance, or Freedom to Operate, the viewer will have learned:

  • The nuances between infringement, clearance and freedom to operate type searching vs. patentability and validity/invalidity searching.   

  • How to accurately scope search features to encompass all possible claimed iterations of the product/process being searched.
  • How to understand and search for potentially “blocking” claims. 
  • How to use non-patent literature to enhance your results. 
  • How to compose advanced text query progressions using full-text queries, claims-only queries and combinations of the two. 
  • A method of systematically evaluating and reporting references for clearance purposes. 
  • Tips for assessing the threat level of each uncovered result. 

Purchase Module 2 and Module 3 from our storefront.

State CLE Information: 

PRG works closely with CLE states to obtain state bar credit for our Video on Demand courses.  We are currently in the process of obtaining state credit for this course in numerous states, so please check back if your state is not listed, or email us at cleadmin@patentresources.com and we will notify you then your state is active.

Please note that some states limit the number of hours that attorneys can participate in self-study activities to obtain CLE credit. Rules vary by state so please check your state rules. 

If you have any questions about the CLE process for our Video on Demand courses, please send your questions to cleadmin@patentresources.com.

This course (Modules 1, 2 and 3) is approved for CLE credit in the following states:

California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Texas

Upon request, we will submit this course for CLE approval in the following states (please allow 30 days for processing):

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The course materials (lecture slides, textbook and course evaluation form) will be available for you to view and/or download when you access your purchased Video on Demand course in the VOD player.  Please note that the course evaluation form is required for CLE or CPD credit.  Once you have completed viewing your VOD course, please fill out the course evaluation form, enter the CLE codes (a six-character code in red font in the lower left corner of a slide in each section), and check the self-certification boxes.  Email the completed evaluation form to cleadmin@patentresources.com.  PRG will provide you with a certificate of completion and will file your paperwork with the state within 10 business days.

Upcoming Events