Free Tool · Prior Art
Build a prior-art search strategy.
Searching for 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 → is the cheapest way to find out your idea is already taken — before you spend thousands filing. Describe your invention and we'll turn it into keyword clusters, likely patent classes, and ready-to-run search queries.
Core keywords
Add these synonyms to widen the net
Likely patent classes (CPC)
Narrow your search by combining a class with your keywords — it cuts out unrelated noise fast.
Boolean query
self-cleaning AND (solar OR photovoltaic OR pv) AND panel AND repels AND dust AND electrostatically AND transparent AND electrode
Where to look — don't stop at granted patents
Patent databases
Google Patents, Espacenet, and USPTO Patent Public Search — search granted patents and published applications alike.
Published applications
Most filings publish at 18 months and count as 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 → even if never granted. Don't search only issued patents.
Non-patent literature
Google Scholar, academic papers, datasheets, and standards. A journal article can sink your noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → just as a patent can.
Products & crowdfunding
Amazon, trade catalogs, Kickstarter, and old product manuals. A product sold years ago is 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 →.
Foreign patents
WIPO PATENTSCOPE and Espacenet cover non-US filings — noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → is judged worldwide.
A do-it-yourself search is a great first filter, but it isn't exhaustive — professional searchers and patent attorneys find art that keyword searches miss. Treat a clean result as encouraging, not conclusive. PatentBrief is not a law firm.