Technical features
Identify the mechanisms, components and functional relationships that define the invention.
Patent Search · Patentability
Patentability Search Services
Know whether your invention can withstand deeper patentability analysis before you invest in filing.
Go beyond identifying earlier disclosures. Hashi evaluates relevant prior art against technical features and claim scope to assess novelty, inventive step and potential claim vulnerabilities before the next patent decision.
Direct answer
What is a Patentability Search?
A patentability search combines prior-art discovery with analysis of whether an invention appears to satisfy relevant novelty and inventive-step or obviousness considerations based on the identified references. It supports an evidence-led decision; it does not guarantee patent grant or replace jurisdiction-specific legal advice.
- Novelty
- Has the claimed invention or feature set been disclosed previously?
- Inventive step
- Would the claimed combination appear obvious in view of relevant prior art?
- Claim scope
- Which elements appear supported, exposed or worth refining?
The commercial question
Before you file, test the patentability position.
“Is this invention sufficiently differentiated to justify moving towards patent protection?”
Drafting, attorney time, filing costs, prosecution effort, R&D resources and commercialisation planning all involve commitment. Build that decision around evidence rather than assumption.
Hashi intelligence
- Relevant prior art
- Novelty analysis
- Inventive-step analysis
- Claim-feature comparison
- Claim-scope observations
- Next-step recommendations
Analysis scope
What Does a Patentability Search Analyze?
The scope follows the technical question and intended decision—not a generic database query.
Novelty
Investigate earlier disclosures relevant to important technical features and proposed claim elements.
Inventive step
Analyse whether relevant references, considered alone or in combination, may affect inventive-step or obviousness arguments.
Claim scope
Examine where claim elements appear supported, exposed or potentially worth refining.
Families & citations
Trace relevant patent families, related publications and citation relationships for context and search depth.
Technical literature
Depending on scope, review journals, standards, conference papers and product documentation.
A critical distinction
Novelty Search vs Patentability Search
Both begin with prior art. The difference is the analytical question the evidence must answer.
Decision factor
Novelty Search
Patentability Search
Primary question
Novelty SearchHas the invention or feature set been disclosed before?
Patentability SearchHow does the invention appear to stand on novelty and inventive step?
Search objective
Novelty SearchFind earlier disclosure relevant to novelty.
Patentability SearchBuild an evidence base for the next patent decision.
Novelty analysis
Novelty SearchCore focus
Patentability SearchIncluded
Inventive-step analysis
Novelty SearchUsually outside the focused scope
Patentability SearchA central analytical layer
Claim analysis
Novelty SearchFeature-level comparison where scoped
Patentability SearchClaim-element and technical relationship analysis
Reference combinations
Novelty SearchNot the primary purpose
Patentability SearchConsidered where relevant to inventive step
Claim-scope observations
Novelty SearchLimited
Patentability SearchPotential vulnerabilities and differentiating elements
Typical decision
Novelty SearchWhether deeper analysis is warranted
Patentability SearchWhether to draft, file, refine or investigate further
A patentability search provides analytical evidence. It does not guarantee patent grant or replace jurisdiction-specific legal advice.
Methodology
How Hashi Conducts a Patentability Search
- 01
Understand
Clarify the invention, technical objective, problem addressed and intended claim scope.
- 02
Decompose
Break the invention into features, functions, relationships and alternative terminology.
- 03
Discover
Combine semantic retrieval, keywords, classifications, citations, families and relevant technical literature.
- 04
Evaluate
Review potentially relevant references against the technical features and claim elements.
- 05
Analyse
Assess novelty and inventive-step considerations from the identified evidence.
- 06
Recommend
Set out claim-scope observations, limitations and practical next steps.
AI accelerates discovery. Technical experts interpret the evidence.
Request a Patentability SearchAI + expert analysis
AI Accelerates Search. Experts Analyze the Evidence.
AI-assisted discovery
Semantic retrieval, terminology expansion, concept similarity, classification discovery, citation relationships, family clustering and document triage.
Expert analysis
Technical interpretation, claim-element comparison, relevance review, inventive-step analysis, claim-scope observations and reasoned conclusions.
What you receive
What You Receive From Our Patentability Search Services
Deliverables are confirmed during scoping. Depending on the agreed scope, they may include:
Search strategy
Defined concepts, scope, sources, jurisdictions and relevant cut-off dates.
Prior-art reference set
Relevant patent and non-patent references identified during the search.
Novelty analysis
Technical comparison of relevant disclosures against important features and claim elements.
Inventive-step analysis
Reasoned review of relationships and combinations that may affect inventive step or obviousness.
Claim-by-claim assessment
Structured analysis of claims and their relationship to the identified evidence.
Claim-scope recommendations
Observations on exposed, narrow, broad or technically differentiating elements.
Family & citation context
Relevant publication relationships and citation context where applicable.
Evidence-based report
Clear findings, source references, technical reasoning and stated search limitations.
Claim-level analysis
From Prior Art to Claim Scope
A patentability search should not stop at a list of references. Its value comes from understanding how technical disclosures relate to claim elements—and where a claim may require further analysis or refinement.
Proposed claim
Technical feature set
Element A
Element B
Element C
Element D
Compared with evidence
Reference 1
Reference 2
Reference 3
Novelty
Inventive step
Claim scope
Illustrative analytical structure only; no fabricated claims or patent references are shown.
Timing
When Should You Conduct a Patentability Search?
Before patent drafting
Test the invention before committing significant drafting effort.
Before filing
Obtain evidence before filing costs and prosecution effort begin.
After an invention disclosure
Help R&D and IP teams decide whether deeper analysis is warranted.
Before international filing
Review the disclosure environment before expanding a filing strategy.
Before claim amendment
Understand surrounding prior art before refining claim scope.
Before commercialisation
Investigate technical disclosures before substantial market investment.
Technology domains
Patentability Analysis Across Complex Technologies
For startups, R&D teams, corporate IP teams, patent attorneys, universities, research organisations and technology companies.
Semiconductors
Chip architecture · HBM · advanced packaging · AI accelerators · RISC-V
Telecommunications
5G · 6G · NTN · AI-RAN · massive MIMO · ISAC
Automotive
ADAS · radar · V2X · autonomous systems · software-defined vehicles
Life sciences
Drug delivery · formulations · diagnostics · medical devices · biotechnology
AI & software
Machine learning · AI infrastructure · computer vision · edge AI · software-enabled inventions
Patentability treatment for software-enabled and other inventions varies by jurisdiction. The analysis is scoped to the relevant technical and legal context.
Choose the right evidence
Which Patent Search Do You Need?
Novelty Search
Focused investigation of earlier disclosure relevant to novelty.
ExplorePatentability Search
Novelty, inventive-step analysis and claim-scope observations.
This servicePrior Art Search
Broader investigation of relevant disclosures around an invention or technology.
ExploreFreedom to Operate
Product clearance analysis against relevant enforceable rights in defined jurisdictions.
ExplorePatent Analytics
Portfolio, competitor and technology intelligence across larger evidence sets.
ExploreNot sure which search you need? Talk to a Hashi IP Expert.
Why Hashi
Why Choose Hashi for Patentability Search Services?
Technology-first
We begin with the engineering problem and technical relationships, not a keyword list.
AI-assisted discovery
Semantic and concept-level retrieval expands discovery beyond exact terminology.
Expert interpretation
Technical analysts assess relevance, claim elements and reference relationships.
Evidence-oriented
Findings are organised around claims, references, reasoning and stated limitations.
Decision-focused
The output supports drafting, filing, refinement or further investigation—not a document dump.
Patentability search services
Before You File, Understand the Patentability Position.
Tell us about the technology and the decision you need to make. Hashi can scope the search around relevant claims, jurisdictions and evidence requirements. Please avoid sharing confidential invention details until appropriate arrangements are in place.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions About Patentability Search Services
What is a patentability search?+
A patentability search combines prior-art discovery with analysis of how an invention appears to stand against novelty and inventive-step or obviousness considerations. It compares relevant evidence with technical features and potential claim scope to inform the next patent decision. It is an analytical assessment, not a guarantee of patent grant.
How is a patentability search different from a novelty search?+
A novelty search focuses on whether the invention or its key features were disclosed earlier. A patentability search goes further by considering inventive step or obviousness, relevant combinations of references and potential claim-scope issues based on the evidence identified.
Does a patentability search assess inventive step?+
Yes. Within the agreed scope, the analysis considers whether relevant references and their technical relationships may affect inventive-step or obviousness arguments. The applicable legal test varies by jurisdiction, so formal legal conclusions should be made with qualified counsel.
Does the service include prior-art searching?+
Yes. Prior-art discovery is the evidence base for the analysis. The strategy can combine semantic retrieval, keywords, patent classifications, citations, family analysis and relevant non-patent literature depending on the technology and agreed scope.
Can a patentability search determine whether my patent will be granted?+
No search can guarantee grant. Patentability depends on the claims, applicable law, examination and jurisdiction-specific legal assessment. The search provides technical evidence and structured analysis to support a better-informed filing or drafting decision.
What does a patentability search report contain?+
Depending on scope, the report may include the search strategy, relevant references, feature or claim comparisons, novelty observations, inventive-step analysis, family and citation context, claim-scope observations, limitations and recommended next steps.
Does Hashi analyse individual claims?+
Yes, where claims or a proposed claim framework are available and claim-level analysis is included in scope. The report can map identified technical disclosures to individual claim elements without presenting the assessment as a formal legal determination.
Does the search include non-patent literature?+
It can. Relevant journals, standards, conference papers, technical publications and product documentation may be included depending on the technology, evidence need and agreed scope.
Can Hashi support international filing decisions?+
Yes. A search can be scoped around international publications and target jurisdictions to support PCT or national filing strategy. The analytical framing and legal advice required for a filing decision remain jurisdiction-specific.
How long does a patentability search take and what does it cost?+
Timing and cost depend on technical complexity, the number and maturity of claims, jurisdictions, source coverage and analysis depth. Hashi confirms the scope, deliverables, quotation and schedule before work begins.