How to Check If Something Is Patented

How to Check If Something Is Patented

Worried someone might already own rights to an idea you're working on? Before you file your own patent—or worse, accidentally infringe—you should check if something similar is already patented.

Step-by-Step: How to Check If Something Is Patented

1. **Use Google Patents**

  Visit [1](https://patents.google.com) and enter keywords, inventor names, company names, or known patent numbers.

2. **Search the USPTO Database**

  Go to [2](https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/) for the most current US patent applications and grants.

3. **Use Classification Codes for Advanced Filtering**

  Searching by CPC codes like  or  can narrow results by technology.

4. **Look for Similar Claims**

  Claims are the part of the patent that define its legal scope. Even if the invention looks similar, it may not be covered unless the claims overlap.

Helpful Tips

• Don’t just look at titles—read abstracts and claims
• Try synonyms and alternative technical terms
• Use filters like date, inventor, assignee (company), and jurisdiction
• Consider hiring a Patent Search Firm or Patent Attorney

International Search Tools

• **WIPO PATENTSCOPE** – [3](https://patentscope.wipo.int/)
• **Espacenet (Europe)** – [4](https://worldwide.espacenet.com/)

Related Articles

• How to Read a Patent
• How to Do a Prior Art Search
• Patent Search Tools Compared
• How to Patent an Idea

CPC Notes

This topic is relevant to a wide range of classifications depending on the type of invention. General search tools may return patents from:

• – Data processing, information retrieval
• – Commercial/business methods
• – App and system-level security