Prior art search
Is my idea already patented?
Describe your idea in plain English. We'll compare it against our patent index, show you the closest matches with an overlap verdict, and hand you a search strategy to keep going.
Idea check
What searching tells you
Prior art search is step one — not the final word
Searching PatentBrief will surface published patents with similar concepts. This gives you a starting point — but a patentability determination requires a registered patent attorney who searches non-patent prior art, pending applications, and applies legal standards to your specific claims.
Search tips
Describe the problem, not the solution
Patents protect specific implementations. Searching for "how do I stop my phone screen from cracking" will surface more relevant prior artprior artEarlier patents, publications, or products that existed before this patent's filing date. Patent claims must be novel over the prior art.Read more → than searching "shatterproof glass."
Use plain English
Our semantic search understands natural language. You don't need to know patent classification codes or technical jargon — describe your idea the way you'd explain it to a friend.
Broad searches first, narrow second
Start with the general concept, then narrow to specifics. If "wireless charging" returns too many results, try "wireless charging for implanted medical devices."
Finding similar patents is not a dead end
A similar patent doesn't mean you can't patent yours. What matters is whether your specific implementation is novel. Similar prior artprior artEarlier patents, publications, or products that existed before this patent's filing date. Patent claims must be novel over the prior art.Read more → just shapes how narrow your claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → need to be.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if my idea is already patented?
Search Google Patents (patents.google.com) and the USPTO database (ppubs.uspto.gov) using keywords that describe what your invention does, not what it's called. PatentBrief can help you understand any patents you find.
Does a patent have to be identical to my idea to block me?
No. If your product practices every element of a single patent claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more →, you're infringing — even if you invented it independently and even if your version is better. This is called literal infringementinfringementMaking, using, selling, or importing a patented invention without permission from the patent holder.Read more →.
What if my idea is similar but not identical to an existing patent?
It depends on claimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → scope. Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more → may leave room for design-arounds. Wide claims may still cover you. Reading the independent claims carefully — or having an attorney do a freedom-to-operate (FTO) analysis — is the right move.
Can I patent an idea I had but haven't built yet?
In the US, you can file a provisionalprovisionalA simplified, lower-cost patent application that locks in a filing date for 12 months while the inventor refines or pitches.Read more → patent before building — but you must be able to describe how it works in enough detail for someone skilled in the field to reproduce it. Vague ideas don't qualify.
What is prior art?
Any publicly available information that existed before your patent filing datefiling dateThe day the patent application was submitted to the USPTO. Sets the priority date for prior-art comparisons.Read more → that describes your invention. Prior artprior artEarlier patents, publications, or products that existed before this patent's filing date. Patent claims must be novel over the prior art.Read more → includes patents, academic papers, products, YouTube videos, and even public demonstrations.
Ready to check?
Describe your invention idea in plain English.