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freedom to operate search

Freedom To Operate Search

Wissen Research is a leading provider of intellectual property research and analysis services. We help businesses across industries make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and maximize their competitive advantage. One of our core services is the Freedom to Operate (FTO) search, which helps businesses identify and mitigate potential infringement risks before launching new products or services.

Our process for conducting FTO (Freedom to Operate) searches includes a thorough examination to detect active/alive patents that may prohibit a company from manufacturing or selling a specific product or practicing a particular process in a particular area/jurisdiction. Our skilled team of researchers employs cutting-edge technology and technical knowledge to identify potential infringement risks and offer effective strategies to alleviate any such risks.

What does “Freedom to Operate” (FTO) mean in IP?

As the name suggests, Freedom to Operate means that a company has the liberty to involve in trade activities like the development, manufacturing, and sale of a product without impacting the IP rights of an individual or a company. Freedom to Operate Search enables a company to determine whether its product or procedure is infringing the claims of an active patent and prevent litigation risk beforehand. A Freedom to Operate search is also known as a Clearance Search, Right to Use Search and Non-Infringement Opinion.

Who should conduct an FTO search?

Any individual inventor or company can conduct an FTO search to determine whether a product or procedure could be done in a specific jurisdiction. This will help to gain 100% confidence that there will be no litigation risk or patent infringement in the future.

At what stage of the product cycle is Freedom to Operate (FTO) search usually performed?

Ideally, an FTO search is done before launching a product in the market. But the best time to conduct an FTO search is when your product is in the development stage because your product might be infringing on anyone’s active patent. You can make modifications to your product without any issues, as it becomes difficult to do so when you are about to launch your product.

Benefits of Freedom to Operate Search

  • FTO search saves a great deal of time and capital, which enables you to construct a business system that is secure and suitable.
  • Convenience in safeguarding the launch of your product.
  • FTO search also empowers the developer team to discover some novel ideas.

How does Wissen Research process your Freedom to Operate Search?

  • Wissen Research develops various search strategies/techniques to identify relevant patents that your invention may infringe on.
  • Our goal is to look for keywords that will assist in the discovery of an invention/product in the claims section of patents/patent applications.
  • Analyzing the patents and peer at individual claims. Investigate barriers to entry, or patents and technology that are consistent to obstruct the client’s quest for an intellectual property patent. “Eradicate” results that aren’t pertinent, and keep the subset of patents that present an issue.
  • Examine solutions to potential problems. For example, look at the patent status, potential expiration, and/or research, and prepare an invalidity opinion.
  • Present the outcomes to the client and show the potential intellectual property (IP) issues and solutions, and make suggestions towards a plan for moving forward.

Why choose Wissen Research for FTO Search?

  • Wissen Research has a team of skilled professionals who have expertise in key areas.
  • A comprehensive search for prior art using 15+ databases.
  • Having multilingual capabilities covering almost 100+ countries.
  • Wissen Research has strong regional database coverage, with native language capabilities, including CN, JP, and KR, which enables us to deliver precise results.
  • Understanding the laws of different countries; evaluating the greatest claim scope; and assessing infringement possibility.
  • Wissen Research maintains transparency in the search direction by providing interim results and constant communication with clients.
  • We also perform structure and sequence-based searches, as well as Markush structure searches.
  • Customized pricing plans based on individual client requirements.