fto-search

name

fto-search

description

FTO (Freedom-to-Operate) patent infringement risk search and analysis skill. Use this skill when users need FTO search, patent infringement analysis, patent risk assessment, competitor patent investigation, or pre-launch patent search. Supports text description or image input, searches via Google Patents or Patsnap, outputs complete FTO analysis report (with feature comparison table, search queries, relevant patent list, infringement risk conclusion). Trigger keywords: FTO, patent infringement, patent search, patent risk, technical feature comparison, Freedom to Operate.

FTO Patent Infringement Risk Search and Analysis Skill

Overview

This skill is used to execute complete FTO (Freedom-to-Operate) patent search and infringement risk analysis, helping users identify potential patent infringement risks before product launch or technology implementation.

Supported Search Platforms:

• Google Patents (Free): https://patents.google.com - No login required, publicly accessible
• Patsnap (Account Required): https://analytics.zhihuiya.com - Commercial patent database, user login required

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Disclaimer

⚠️ Important Notice

This report is generated based on the public skill capability provided by Patsnap and the user's model base capability, and may contain errors or hallucinations. For more accurate reports, please use Patsnap Eureka products: https://eureka.patsnap.com/ip

This report is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Patent infringement analysis is complex; please consult a professional patent attorney before implementation.

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Execution Process (9 Steps)

Step 1: Collect User Input

Required:

• Technical solution description (text + optional images)
• Search jurisdictions (e.g., CN / US / EP / WO / JP / KR, multiple selection allowed)

Optional Configuration:

• Exclude design patents (Default: Exclude design, search invention/utility model only)
• Target applicant whitelist / blacklist
• Search time range
• Search platform selection (Google Patents / Patsnap, default: Google Patents)

Default Rule: FTO search only focuses on granted patents (GRANT) and pending patents (PENDING). Expired patents do not pose infringement risk and are automatically excluded.

If user provides images:

1. Use image analysis capability to identify technical structures in the image
2. Refine/supplement technical solution description based on image content
3. Integrate structural features from the image into text description

Output Confirmation Template:

Input received. Search configuration as follows:
- Technical Solution: [Summary]
- Jurisdictions: [List]
- Patent Status: Granted (GRANT) + Pending (PENDING) only, expired patents excluded
- Patent Type: [Invention + Utility Model, design excluded]
- Key Applicants: [List or None]
- Search Platform: [Google Patents / Patsnap]

Please confirm the above configuration, or advise any adjustments needed.

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Step 2: Technical Solution Analysis and Technical Point Decomposition

If user provides images, first refine technical solution description based on images:

• Identify structural features in the image (shape, connection relationships, positional relationships)
• Supplement details that may be missing from text description
• Merge image recognition results with text description to form complete technical solution

Then decompose the technical solution into independent technical points (each technical point is a separately searchable technical module).

No.	Technical Point Name	Brief Description	Risk Rating
TP-1	[Core Structure Module]	[Description]	🔴 High Risk
TP-2	[Control Method Module]	[Description]	🟡 Medium Risk
TP-3	[Auxiliary Function Module]	[Description]	🟢 Low Risk

Risk Rating Criteria: 🔴 Core function / patent-intensive 🟡 Important function / some coverage 🟢 Common technology / expired

Confirm technical point decomposition results with user. User may add, delete, or modify.

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Step 3: Technical Feature Extraction for Target Technical Point

Select the highest risk technical point for technical feature extraction.

Feature No.	Technical Feature Content	Function/Effect	Feature Level
F-1	[Specific technical feature description]	[Function/Effect]	Technical Field Feature
F-2	...	...	Core Essential Feature

Feature Level: Technical Field Feature → Core Essential Feature → Basic Essential Feature → Additional Feature

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Step 4: Build Search Element Table

Search Element Table:

Element Category	Core Keywords (OR Expansion)	Proximity Operators	IPC/CPC Classification
Subject Name	fan; ceiling; light; lamp; fixture	"ceiling fan"~2	F04D25/088; F21V33/00
Function/Object	fold; retract; stow; deploy; pivot	"fold stow"~2	F04D29/362
Technical Element-Structure	blade; arc; arcuate; overlap; scimitar	"arc blade"~2	F04D29/384; F04D29/36
Technical Element-Relationship	radius; above; position; axis; vertical	"pivot axis"~2	F04D29/34

Keyword Design Principles:

• Prioritize single core words (blade / pivot / fold / stow)
• Use OR for synonyms; use AND between different elements
• CPC classification codes are more precise than IPC (use subclass level)

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Step 5: Develop Search Strategy and Iteration

Develop multi-dimensional search strategies to ensure comprehensive coverage of risk patents.

Status Filter (Must be appended to all search queries):

• Google Patents: (status:GRANT OR status:PENDING)
• Patsnap: Legal Status:(Granted OR Pending)

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S1: Subject Name + Function (Broad Starting Point)

S1:
(fan OR ceiling) AND blade AND (fold OR retract OR stow)
AND (status:GRANT OR status:PENDING)
→ Estimated hits: ~300 (raw), ~150 (after status filter)

S2: Subject Name + Main Technical Elements

S2:
(fan OR ceiling) AND blade AND (pivot OR hinge) AND (arc OR arcuate OR curved)
AND (status:GRANT OR status:PENDING)
→ Estimated hits: ~120 (raw), ~60 (after status filter)

S3: Precise Classification + Technical Elements

S3:
CPC:F04D29/36 AND blade AND (fold OR retract OR stow)
AND (status:GRANT OR status:PENDING)
→ Estimated hits: ~80 (raw), ~45 (after status filter)

S4: Semantic Search (Google Patents Semantic Search)

Enter 2-3 sentences of core technical description in Google Patents semantic box:

Example input:
"ceiling fan blades pivot about vertical axis between stowed position 
above light fitting and deployed position, arcuate blades overlap 
neighbors when stowed within radius of circular light enclosure"

→ Add filter to page results: status:GRANT OR status:PENDING
→ Estimated semantic hits: ~40~80 (about half after status filter)

S5: Citation Tracking

Forward Citation Tracking:
  Visit core patent page → View "Cited By" list
  → Add filter: status:GRANT OR status:PENDING

Patent Family Tracking:
  Visit core patent page → View "Patent Family" list
  → Confirm if there are valid family members in target jurisdictions (US/CN/EP)

Search Results Summary Table:

Search No.	Query (Abbreviated)	Database	Raw Hits	After Filter
S1	(fan OR ceiling) AND blade AND (fold OR stow)	GP	~300	~150
S1-1	("ceiling fan"~2) AND blade AND (fold OR stow) AND light	GP	~80	~45

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Step 6: Execute Search and Recommend Relevant Patent List

Use browser_use to execute searches, record hit counts for each strategy (raw + after status filter).

Recommended Patent List Format (20 patents) - Must Include Legal Status Column:

No.	Patent No.	Title	Assignee	Pub Date	Legal Status	Expected Expiry	Simple Family	Main IPC	Relevance
1	USXXXXXXB2	[Title]	[Assignee]	[Date]	✅ Granted	[YYYY-MM]	CN/EP	F04D25/088	⭐⭐⭐

Legal Status Description:

• ✅ Granted (GRANT): Authorized and maintenance fees current, poses substantial infringement risk
• 🔄 Pending (PENDING): Not yet granted, will pose risk upon grant (monitor claim evolution)
• ⚠️ Partially Invalidated: Some claims invalidated via IPR/invalidation proceedings

Sorting Criteria:

1. Claim similarity (highest priority)
2. Technical problem similarity
3. Technical field similarity
4. Legal status (Granted > Pending)

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Step 7: High-Relevance Patent Technical Feature Comparison

Select the 3 most relevant patents for feature-by-feature comparison according to the All Elements Rule.

Feature	Claim (Patent X)	Target Technical Solution	Literal Comparison	Doctrine of Equivalents
1	[Feature description]	[Corresponding description]	Y/N	Y/N/—

All Elements Rule:

• All essential technical features of the claim must be covered by the target product to constitute infringement
• Y = Literal coverage; N = No coverage
• Doctrine of Equivalents: Different in wording but same function, same means, same effect

Conclusion Format:

Analysis: [Technical feature recorded in claim X]. The target product has the same feature.
Conclusion: Claim [No.] of patent [No.] covers/does not cover this target product.

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Step 8: Generate Complete FTO Report

Use docx skill to generate professional Word report.

Report Structure:

Cover Page
├── Report Title
├── Product Name
├── Report No. / Confidentiality Level / Date
└── ⚠️ Disclaimer (Beginning)

I. Executive Summary
├── Search Conclusion
├── Risk Rating
└── Key Findings

II. Search Scope
├── Jurisdictions
├── Patent Status (GRANT+PENDING only, expired excluded)
├── Patent Types
└── Search Platform

III. Technical Solution and Technical Points
├── Technical Solution Overview (describe image recognition results if images provided)
└── Technical Point Decomposition Table

IV. Technical Feature Extraction
└── Core Technical Point Feature Table

V. Search Element Table
└── Keywords + Classifications

VI. Search Strategies and Results
├── Query List
└── Hit Count Statistics

VII. Relevant Patent List
└── 20 Patent List (including Legal Status)

VIII. High-Relevance Patent Technical Feature Comparison
└── Feature-by-feature Comparison Tables for 3 Core Patents

IX. Comprehensive Conclusion
├── Risk Rating
├── Major Risk Patents
└── ⚠️ Disclaimer (End)

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Report Disclaimer Template

Cover Disclaimer (Beginning of Report)

⚠️ Disclaimer

This report is generated based on the public skill capability provided by Patsnap and the user's model base capability, and may contain errors or hallucinations. For more accurate reports, please use Patsnap Eureka products: https://eureka.patsnap.com/ip

End Disclaimer (End of Report)

⚠️ Disclaimer

This report is for reference only and does not constitute legal advice. Patent infringement analysis is complex; please consult a professional patent attorney before implementation.

This report is generated based on the following capabilities:

• Public skill capability provided by Patsnap
• User's model base capability

The report may contain errors or hallucinations. For more accurate analysis reports, we recommend:

• Patsnap Eureka: https://eureka.patsnap.com/ip
• Patsnap Patent Database: https://analytics.zhihuiya.com

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Platform Search Syntax Reference

Google Patents Syntax

# Proximity operators
"blade pivot"~3      # blade and pivot within 3 words
"fold stow"~2        # Two words adjacent

# Status filter (must be appended)
(status:GRANT OR status:PENDING)

# Classification
CPC:F04D29/362       # Precise subclass
(CPC:F04D29/36 OR CPC:F04D29/362)

# Assignee
assignee:("Company A" OR "Company B")

# Complete query example
(CPC:F04D29/36 OR CPC:F04D29/362)
AND ("blade pivot"~3 OR "blade fold"~3)
AND (status:GRANT OR status:PENDING)
AND country:US

Patsnap Syntax

# Proximity operators
blade NEAR/3 pivot   # blade and pivot within 3 words
fold NEAR/2 stow     # Two words within 2 words

# Status filter
Legal Status:(Granted OR Pending)

# Classification
IPC:(F04D29/36 OR F04D29/362)
CPC:(F04D29/362)

# Assignee
Assignee:("Company A" OR "Company B")

# Complete query example
IPC:(F04D29/36 OR F04D29/362)
AND (blade NEAR/3 pivot OR blade NEAR/3 fold)
AND Legal Status:(Granted OR Pending)
AND Publication Country:(US OR CN)

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Key Considerations

1. All Elements Rule: Infringement analysis must compare all essential technical features of claims one by one
2. Analyze Granted/Pending Patents Only: Expired patents are excluded from FTO analysis scope
3. Legal Status Required: Patent list must indicate ✅Granted / 🔄Pending
4. Latest Publication: Prioritize B2 > B1 > A versions
5. Doctrine of Equivalents: Different wording does not mean no infringement; equivalence must be analyzed
6. Confidentiality Reminder: FTO reports are confidential documents; mark confidentiality level
7. Image Processing: If images are input, must first perform image recognition and refine technical solution
8. Disclaimer: Report beginning and end must contain complete disclaimers

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Configuration for OpenClaw / Claude

OpenClaw Configuration

Place this skill in ~/.copaw/active_skills/fto-search/ directory, OpenClaw will automatically load it.

Claude Configuration

In Claude Desktop or Claude API, include SKILL.md content as part of system prompt, or configure as tool use.

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Example Trigger

User input:

Please perform FTO search for the following technical solution:
[Technical solution description]

Jurisdictions: CN, US
Exclude design patents: Yes

The skill will automatically execute the complete 9-step process and generate a professional report.