Find out whether your invention is already known before you spend on filing. Legal Startup runs an Indian patent search across the Indian Patent Office database, global patent databases and technical literature, and gives you a clear written report with our analysis.
Free call & custom quote · Professional fee based on the scope of your search
An Indian patent search is a structured search of published patent applications, granted patents and technical literature to check whether an invention is already known, or whether an existing patent in India could block your product. The public database of the Indian Patent Office (InPASS) is the starting point, but a reliable search also covers foreign patents and non-patent literature.
Last updated: October 2026. Rules, forms, fees and time limits can change, so we confirm the current position before acting on any search.
A patent search looks for documents that describe the same or a similar invention. Under the Patents Act, 1970, an invention can be patented only if it is new, involves an inventive step and is capable of industrial application, and it must not fall under the exclusions in Sections 3 and 4 of the Act. A patent search tests the first two of these against what is already published.
What counts as prior art is not limited to Indian patents. A patent document, journal article, thesis, product manual or web page published anywhere in the world before your filing or priority date can affect novelty. That is why a quick keyword check on one database is rarely enough, and why searches are usually run with both keywords and patent classification codes (IPC and CPC).
A search is also used on the other side of the table. Before you launch a product, a freedom-to-operate search checks whether patents that are still in force in India cover what you plan to make or sell. And if someone asserts a patent against you, a validity search looks for earlier documents that may weaken it.
For official records, visit the Intellectual Property India website at ipindia.gov.in, the portal of the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks, Government of India, where the public patent search facility (InPASS) and the Patent Journal are available. If you are protecting a brand name or logo rather than an invention, see our trademark registration online service.
Important limits and timelines that shape how a patent search is done.
The right search depends on what decision you need to make.
Done before filing to see whether your invention looks new and inventive.
Done before launch to check patents that are in force in India.
Looks for earlier documents against a specific granted patent.
Finds the filings of a company, competitor or individual.
Maps who is patenting what in a technology area.
Several inventions or a product with many features.
Not sure which search you need? Describe your invention or product and our experts will recommend the right one, free of charge.
Why inventors and businesses search before they file or launch.
See the closest prior art before you commit to an application.
Draft claims that are distinct from what is already published.
Identify patents in force that could affect your product in India.
Decide early if an application is worth pursuing, or needs a different angle.
See where competitors are filing and which areas are still open.
Prior-art evidence supports opposition, revocation or defence.
Share your invention from anywhere in India and receive the report digitally.
From invention discussion to search report, here is how our patent search works.
Timelines depend on the technology, the type of search and the number of features to be checked. Not to scale.
We understand the problem, the technical solution and what you want the search to decide. An NDA is signed on request.
We break the invention into key features and prepare keywords, synonyms and IPC/CPC classes, and agree the type of search with you.
We search InPASS and international patent databases, then check scientific papers and other technical literature.
Relevant results are compared with your invention feature by feature. For freedom-to-operate work, we also check legal status in India.
You get a written report listing the documents found, how they relate to your invention, and our assessment of the risk.
We discuss whether to file, narrow the claims, change the design or proceed with the launch, based on what the search shows.
The clearer the brief, the better the search. Our expert will confirm what is needed for your case.
Searching the public database of the Indian Patent Office is free. The cost of a professional search depends on how much work is needed to reach a reliable answer. It generally depends on three things:
A narrow patentability search is usually lighter than a freedom-to-operate, validity or landscape search.
More features, wider technology fields and more claims to compare mean more search and analysis time.
A short opinion on the closest documents costs less than a detailed claim-by-claim comparison.
No government fee is payable for a search itself. If you later file a patent application, the Patent Office fee depends on the type of applicant and filing, and we confirm it before filing. We share a clear, itemised quote before you begin – no hidden charges. Get your free quote →
Choose the search that matches your decision, or call free for a custom quote.
You have an invention and want to know if it is worth filing.
You are about to launch a product, or a patent has been raised against you.
A technology area, a competitor or several inventions to check together.
Our professional fee is quoted after a free call, based on the type of search and the invention. No government fee is payable for a search itself. Not sure which option fits? Ask for a free scoping call.
If you are building, launching or defending technology in India, a search can save time and money.
Check novelty before spending on drafting and filing an application.
Make sure a new product does not walk into someone else's patent.
Avoid repeating work that is already published and find open areas.
Assess the patent potential of research before publication.
Review a target company's patents and the strength of its claims.
If a patent has been raised against you, speak to us quickly about a validity search.
A quick view of how a DIY search, a patentability search and a freedom-to-operate search differ. Ask us which one fits your situation.
| Route | Best for | What it covers | Cost | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self search on InPASS | Quick first look | Indian database, keyword results | Free to use | Basic, no legal analysis |
| Patentability search | Before filing | Indian, global and non-patent literature | Custom quote | Analysis of novelty and inventive step |
| Freedom-to-operate search | Before launch | In-force Indian patents and claims | Custom quote | Claim-level risk review |
| Validity search | Against a specific patent | Earlier documents and dates | Custom quote | Evidence for opposition or revocation |
A well-planned search catches most problems before they become expensive.
The report is the start of a decision. Here is how it is usually used.
Go through the closest documents and our assessment with an IP expert.
Prepare the specification and claims with the prior art in mind, and file before any public disclosure.
Narrow the claims or add technical features that clearly set your invention apart.
New applications are published every week, so repeat the search before key milestones.
Searches also help with branding. Once your product name is ready, see our trademark registration online service, and for objections or opposition, our trademark hearing online service. For local support, see our pages for trademark registration in Dwarka and Jaipur.
Quick answers on patent search in India.
An Indian patent search is a structured search of published patent applications, granted patents and other technical literature to find out whether an invention is already known or whether an existing patent could be a problem. It is used before filing, before launching a product, or when checking a patent's validity.
Define the invention and its key features, then search the Indian Patent Office's public search tool (InPASS) using keywords, applicant names, application numbers and patent classification codes. Because similar inventions may be published abroad or in scientific papers, a proper search also covers global patent databases and non-patent literature.
Searching the public patent database on the Indian Patent Office website is free. A professional patent search with analysis and a written report is a paid service, and we quote it after a free call based on the scope of your invention.
InPASS (Indian Patent Advanced Search System) is the public search facility of the Indian Patent Office. It lets you look up published and granted Indian patent applications by fields such as title, abstract, applicant, inventor, application number and classification.
A search shows whether your invention is likely to meet the novelty and inventive step requirements, helps you draft claims around existing prior art, and can save the cost of filing an application that has little chance of grant. It also reveals who is active in your technology area.
The main types are patentability (novelty) search before filing, freedom-to-operate search before launching a product, validity or invalidity search against a specific patent, state-of-the-art or landscape search for a technology area, and applicant or competitor search.
A patentability search checks whether your invention is new and inventive compared with everything published before your filing date. A freedom-to-operate search checks whether making or selling your product could infringe someone else's patent that is still in force in India.
No. A search reduces risk and improves the application, but the Patent Office examines every application independently and may raise objections based on documents we did not find. No search can be fully exhaustive, and we do not promise any outcome.
Patent applications are generally published about 18 months after the filing or priority date, unless early publication is requested. Applications filed within that period are not visible, so a search can never show everything that is pending.
It depends on the technology, the number of features and claims to be checked, and the type of search. A narrow patentability search is faster than a freedom-to-operate or landscape search. We confirm the expected timeline when we agree the scope with you.
A clear description of the invention, the problem it solves, its key technical features, any drawings, and known prior products or patents. For a validity or freedom-to-operate search, share the patent numbers or product details concerned. We sign an NDA on request.
A patent in India lasts 20 years from the date of filing, provided the renewal fees are paid on time. After that the invention enters the public domain.
Planning to file a patent or launch a new product? Speak to our IP expert today – the scoping call and the quote are free.
Tell us what you need and our team will get back to you with the right guidance.