There are three types of searches related to patent applications or issued patents.

Patent Search 1: Novelty Search

Many first-time inventors have Beem patent attorneys provide a novelty or collection search prior to beginning a patent application, to identify U.S. patents or U.S. published patent applications that are potentially relevant to the invention. A novelty search helps an inventor determine if the invention is novel before committing the resources necessary to obtain a patent.

Patent Search 2: Validity Search

A validity search is a prior art search done after a patent issues. The purpose of a validity (or invalidity) search is to try and find prior art that the patent examiner overlooked so that a patent can be declared invalid. This might be done by an entity infringing the patent, or it might be done by a patent owner or other entity that has a financial stake in a patent to confirm the validity of a patent.

Patent Search 3: Clearance Search

A clearance search is a prior art search done of issued patents to see if a given product or process violates someone else's existing patent. If so, then a validity search may be done to try and find prior art that would invalidate the patent.