Methods of Patent Research

Database and Electronic Searching –
Kramer & Amado has extensive capabilities for performing in-house database-driven research to locate relevant U.S. and foreign patents, documents, articles, brochures, theses, dissertations and other items. Kramer & Amado has compiled one of the most extensive collections of database resources.

Manual Searching at the United States Patent and Trademark Office –
Kramer & Amado’s physical proximity to the USPTO gives us an undeniable advantage, in that we routinely perform manual searches through the Office’s files and archives. A manual search includes a review of patents and published patent applications classified in a particular class or subclass, or across multiple areas covering the technology in question. This manual search method includes on-site research in the search room of the USPTO along with personal consultation with Patent Examiners.

Library Searching –
In addition to the databases and archives of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Kramer & Amado searches for relevant prior art and documents across several other library resources in the Washington, DC area surrounding our main office. These non-patent libraries include, but are not limited to, the Library of Congress, the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, as well as local technical libraries and those at the University of Maryland, George Washington University and Georgetown University.

Searching in Conjunction with Foreign Associates –
Kramer & Amado has developed advantageous relationships with foreign associates in leading intellectual property countries, especially Europe and Japan. These associates range from attorneys to patent agents, and our international contacts and non-patent literature in countries around the world.