Freedom to Operate (FTO) is an analysis to determine whether a product, technology or invention may infringe on someone else’s patent claims.

 

When we carry out an FTO for you, we give you (the inventor or company) a list of patents upon which your product, services or technology could be infringing on and a percentage of how safe it is to operate in a particular country, continent etc.

 

Whether you are looking to develop, launch, import or export a new product we provide specialist searches covering all technologies. Once a final product has been developed and made ready for market, an infringement search can be used to identify whether the aspects of the product fall within the monopoly covered by one or more third party patents.

 

It is advisable for FTO searches to be conducted prior to launching a product and depending on the stage of development of the product, FTP search results may also provide details of obstructive claims that could be fed into redevelopment in order to design around such obstructions.

 

It’s important to have an infringement search carried out if you are to be seen to be “due diligent” and not be accused of “wilful infringement” (defined as a total disregard for third party patents) which can result in more extensive damages.

 

Businesses may access our “Freedom–to- operate” patent search services to obtain technical solutions to day-to-day technical challenges.