IP searches and landscaping

IP searches and IP landscaping are tools that can help companies to manage IP and avoid IP-related risk.

IP searches look through databases of specific forms of IP in order to identify particular pieces of IP. The nature of registered forms of IP (patents, registered designs and registered trade marks) make them both easier to search through and able to provide a large amount of useful information (e.g. the nature and extent of the right, it's owners, when it was filed and/or granted, whether it is still in operation) that can guide strategic decisions.

IP landscaping uses the same sources of information, but takes a broader view to answer questions with quantitative data. These answers can include things like trends in particular industries, countries or fields of technology; identification of large industry players and analysis of their behaviour; and identifying linkages between creators of IP.