Skip to content

prior-art-search

Category: literature
Field: —
License: MIT
Updated: 2026-05-18
Stages: literature-discovery · literature-synthesis

Prior Art Search

Search patents and literature for prior art relevant to: $ARGUMENTS

Adapted from /research-lit for patent-specific searching.

Constants

  • MAX_PATENT_RESULTS = 20 — Maximum patent documents to analyze in detail
  • MAX_PAPER_RESULTS = 15 — Maximum academic papers to analyze in detail
  • SEARCH_YEARS = 10 — How many years back to search
  • PATENT_DATABASES = "google-patents, espacenet" — Patent databases to search

Inputs

Read the invention description from: 1. $ARGUMENTS if it contains technical details 2. patent/INVENTION_BRIEF.md if it exists 3. INVENTION_BRIEF.md if it exists at project root

Shared References

Load ../shared-references/prior-art-databases.md for search strategy templates and IPC/CPC classification guidance.

Workflow

Step 1: Extract Search Concepts

From the invention description, identify: 1. Core inventive concept: The primary technical contribution (1-2 sentences) 2. Technical problem: What problem it solves 3. Key technical features: 4-6 specific technical elements that define the invention 4. IPC/CPC classes: Predict relevant classification codes (e.g., G06N, G06F)

For EACH search concept, search via:

Google Patents (via WebSearch):

Text Only
WebSearch: "site:patents.google.com [keywords]"
WebSearch: "[keywords] patent"
- Try primary keywords + technical problem keywords - Search in English regardless of target jurisdiction - For CN inventions, also search Chinese keywords via WebSearch

Espacenet (via WebFetch): - WebFetch worldwide.espacenet.com/search results for key queries - Search by predicted IPC/CPC classes

Assignee/Inventor Search: - If known companies/universities work in this area, search their patent portfolios - WebSearch: "[assignee name] patent [technical area]"

For each potentially relevant patent found: - WebFetch the patent page to extract: title, abstract, representative claims, filing date, assignee, current status - Record IPC/CPC classification codes

Search the same concepts in academic databases:

  1. Google Scholar (via WebSearch): WebSearch "[keywords] site:scholar.google.com"
  2. arXiv (via /arxiv if available, or WebSearch): Search for preprints
  3. Semantic Scholar (via /semantic-scholar if API key set, or WebSearch)

For each relevant paper found: - Extract title, authors, venue, year, key contribution

Step 4: Classification and Analysis

For each reference found, assess:

  1. Relevance: How closely does it relate to the invention?
  2. Overlap Risk: Does it disclose the same or similar technical solution?
  3. HIGH: Anticipates one or more claim elements
  4. MEDIUM: Discloses a related but different approach
  5. LOW: Same general field, different approach
  6. Relationship: Is it anticipating, relevant, or merely background?

Organize results by IPC/CPC classification to see the technical landscape.

Step 5: Freedom-to-Operate Assessment (Preliminary)

Based on the search results: - Identify patents with claims that potentially cover the invention - Note any expired patents (public domain) - Flag areas where claim scope overlap is significant

Disclaimer: This is a preliminary assessment only. A professional freedom-to-operate analysis by a patent attorney is recommended before filing.

Step 6: Output

Write patent/PRIOR_ART_REPORT.md with:

Markdown
### Prior Art Search Report

#### Invention Summary
[1-2 sentence description of the searched invention]

#### Search Strategy
- Keywords used: [...]
- IPC/CPC classes searched: [...]
- Databases searched: Google Patents, Espacenet, Google Scholar, arXiv
- Date range: [year] to present

#### Patent References Found

| # | Patent No. | Title | Date | Assignee | IPC/CPC | Key Teaching | Overlap Risk |
|---|-----------|-------|------|----------|---------|-------------|-------------|
| 1 | CN... / US... | [title] | [date] | [assignee] | [codes] | [2-3 sentences] | HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW |

#### Non-Patent Literature Found

| # | Reference | Title | Authors/Venue | Year | Key Contribution | Relevance |
|---|-----------|-------|--------------|------|-----------------|-----------|
| 1 | [DOI/link] | [title] | [authors] | [year] | [1-2 sentences] | HIGH/MEDIUM/LOW |

#### Prior Art Landscape
[Organized by technical approach or IPC class, not just chronological]

#### Freedom-to-Operate Preliminary Assessment
[Which existing patents might block the invention? What is the risk level?]

#### Recommendations
- Suggested claim scope adjustments based on prior art
- Areas where novelty appears strongest
- References to watch during prosecution

Key Rules

  • Never fabricate patent numbers or citations. Mark uncertain references with [VERIFY].
  • Search in English AND the target jurisdiction language (Chinese for CN).
  • Patent prior art includes everything published before the priority date, not just patents.
  • Academic papers are valid prior art for both novelty and inventive step.
  • Include expired patents -- they are public domain but still relevant for novelty.