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Patentability search

Patentability Searches: Clarity Before Investment

A patentability search is often the first strategic decision a founder makes.

Done well, it brings clarity, reduces risk, and helps determine whether a patent will strengthen or weaken your long‑term position.

At NovoTech Patent Firm, patentability searches aren’t just lists of prior art — they’re decision‑making tools that support fundraising, product planning, and portfolio strategy.


Why Patentability Searches Matter

A strategic patentability search helps founders:

✔ understand whether the invention is likely patentable
✔ identify risks before committing to a full application
✔ avoid wasted time and money on filings that won’t hold up
✔ refine or reposition the invention for stronger protection
✔ prepare for investor or acquirer diligence questions

Startups make better decisions when they know the landscape they’re stepping into.


What We Look For

Our approach goes beyond simply pulling prior art.

We evaluate:

✔ technical overlap with existing patents
✔ opportunities for broad, defensible claim scope
✔ areas where competitors may already have coverage
✔ design‑around risks
✔ strategic positioning within your product roadmap

We’re not just asking “Is it patentable?”
We’re asking “Is this a patent worth investing in?”


Our Search Process

1. Strategy Conversation

We begin by understanding your technology, differentiation, and business goals — not just the invention in isolation.

2. Prior Art Review

We search relevant patents, applications, and publications to map out the real competitive landscape.

3. Strategic Interpretation

Raw search results aren’t useful on their own.
We analyze what the prior art means for your:

  • claim scope
  • technical positioning
  • future filings
  • competitive advantage

4. Clear Guidance

You receive a concise, actionable report answering:

  • Is this likely patentable?
  • What direction should the claims take?
  • What risks or limitations exist?
  • What are the options moving forward?

The goal is to give you clarity — not paperwork.


Why Founders Work With Us

✔ Strategic, investor‑aligned analysis
✔ Insights tied to product and competitive context
✔ Clear recommendations, not legal jargon
✔ Support for early‑stage teams navigating uncertainty
✔ Searches designed to inform action, not just documentation

Our work helps founders avoid unnecessary filings — and invest confidently in the ones that matter.


Make Better Patent Decisions

A patentability search is often the smartest first step in building a defensible portfolio.

If you’re exploring whether to file, start with clarity.

Schedule an IP Strategy Session

About the Author

Babak Akhlaghi is a registered patent attorney and the Managing Director of NovoTech Patent Firm, where he helps technology companies build investor‑grade patent portfolios that support fundraising, defensibility, and long‑term competitive advantage. His practice centers on patent strategy, portfolio architecture, and high‑leverage drafting for companies developing AI, machine learning, quantum computing, advanced software‑driven systems, robotics, and other emerging technologies.

Babak is also a permanent Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland, where he teaches Legal Aspects of Entrepreneurship, bringing real‑world IP strategy experience directly into the academic environment.

He is a co‑author of the Patent Applications Handbook, published annually by West Publications (Clark Boardman Division) since 1992, and widely used by practitioners as a technical and procedural reference.

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