Patent documents contain well-structured information on companies and new technologies, which you can access via public databases. It is therefore worth carrying out a search in patent specifications. You can either do this yourself or with the help of the IPI's search services.

Patent specifications are published in various databases worldwide 18 months after filing – meaning you have free, valuable, up-to-date information on competitors, suppliers and the state of the art any time you need it. You can make good use of this information by carrying out a patent search:

• As a source of inspiration. You might find technical solutions that you'd never previously thought of.

• To avoid reinventing the wheel. Patent searches immediately reveal if somebody has already had the same idea as you.

• To help determine patentability before applying for a patent. Patent searches show whether your invention is new and inventive and therefore patentable.

• To protect you from infringing the patent rights of others. Do you use patent-protected inventions for your product or process? This is a question you should ask yourself irrespective of your own patents.

• To keep an eye on your competitors’ inventions. Patent literature can give you valuable information for your own activities.

You can search for patents yourself in various online databases and obtain an initial overview for free.