Adding a second search path to an FTO matter

The Challenge

The IP law firm advises technology companies on patents, IP strategy, due diligence, and licensing. Its clients need to understand patent risk before committing to development, a transaction, or a new market, putting pressure on the firm to provide timely advice backed by a thorough investigation.

In one challenging freedom-to-operate (FTO) matter, a professional search had found no blocking references. The firm wanted a reliable supplementary check to support its confidence in those findings.

A complex technical question can be approached through different terms, classifications, and citation paths. Each search strategy brings its own perspective. The firm was interested in a supplementary way to investigate the same question alongside the professional search, while keeping the interpretation of the findings with its attorneys.

The Solution

The firm used Patsnap's FTO capabilities to carry out an additional check on the client matter. This gave it a second route through the question that had already been investigated by professional searchers.

AI-assisted semantic search can complement keyword and classification searches by looking for related technical concepts, including documents that describe similar ideas in different language. It offers another way to examine the evidence. Attorneys then need to assess the relevance of the findings to the client's product and the jurisdictions involved.

The Result

The supplementary check provided greater reassurance to both the firm and its client. In a matter where the professional search had found no blocking references, the additional investigation increased their confidence in the findings while leaving the legal assessment with the firm.

The client valued the two-route approach, and the firm saw it as a selling point in its work with clients. Adding a further check to the professional search gave both parties more confidence in a challenging matter.

FTO Search

For readers exploring a similar workflow, Patsnap Eureka offers AI FTO Search. Starting with a product or technical solution, it prepares candidate patents and potential risk areas for attorney review.

It does not decide whether a product is clear to launch. That call stays with attorneys.