patent-analysis

name	patent-analysis
title	When to Trigger
description	Conducts patent landscape analysis including prior art searches, patent claim interpretation, freedom-to-operate assessment, and intellectual property strategy for scientific inventions; trigger when users discuss patents, prior art, IP protection, or technology licensing.
author	beita6969
author_url	https://github.com/beita6969/ScienceClaw/tree/main/skills/patent-analysis
license	MIT
version	0.1.0
execution_mode	open
jurisdiction	general
practice	ip
language	en

When to Trigger

Activate this skill when the user mentions:

• Patent search, prior art, novelty search
• Patent claims, claim construction, claim interpretation
• Freedom to operate (FTO), infringement analysis
• Patent landscape, technology mapping, IP portfolio
• Provisional patent, utility patent, PCT application
• Licensing, royalties, technology transfer
• Patent classification (CPC, IPC), patent families

Step-by-Step Methodology

1. Define the invention - Clearly articulate the novel technical features. Distinguish the invention from the prior art. Identify the technical problem solved and the solution provided.
2. Prior art search - Search patent databases systematically: Google Patents, USPTO (PatFT/AppFT), Espacenet, WIPO PatentScope. Use keyword combinations, CPC/IPC classification codes, and citation analysis. Search non-patent literature (publications, conference papers) as well.
3. Landscape analysis - Map the patent landscape: identify key players, filing trends over time, geographic distribution, technology clusters. Use patent classification to categorize technologies. Identify white spaces (underpatented areas).
4. Claim analysis - Parse claims into elements. Identify independent vs. dependent claims. Map claim elements to technical features. For FTO: compare each element of relevant claims against the proposed product/method.
5. Novelty and non-obviousness assessment - Compare invention against closest prior art references. Identify elements that are novel (not found in any single reference) and non-obvious (not a trivial combination of references to a person of ordinary skill in the art).
6. IP strategy recommendation - Advise on filing strategy: provisional vs. utility, domestic vs. PCT, continuation and divisional applications. Consider timing (grace periods, priority dates). Evaluate trade secret vs. patent protection trade-offs.
7. Documentation - Prepare invention disclosure with: title, inventors, technical field, background, description of embodiments, and claims outline. Note that legal patent drafting requires a registered patent attorney.

Key Databases and Tools

• Google Patents - Free full-text patent search
• USPTO PatFT / AppFT - US Patent and Trademark Office
• Espacenet - European Patent Office database
• WIPO PatentScope - International PCT applications
• Lens.org - Open patent and scholarly search