We offer a free consultation to new and existing clients for all new innovations. During the consultation, the client may provide a brief disclosure of their innovation. This information is used to confirm that we are not representing any direct competitors, prior to proceeding.

Once it is confirmed that Alliance Patents is not representing any direct competitors, the client may provide a full disclosure of their innovation. A more detailed disclosure will allow a more thorough prior art search, and thus a more accurate patentability opinion.

A patent search, also known as a prior art search, will be conducted on international patent databases. All competing patents will be recorded, along with a patentability opinion of the innovation in relation to the existing each existing patent. This will inform an overall patentability opinion based on the novel elements of the innovation.

At this stage, the client can choose whether they would like to proceed with patent drafting.

With the patent search complete, there is an opportunity strategize modifications, if necessary, to improve patentability and breadth of protection. This is a collaborative and iterative process between the client and patent agent, and enables optimization of the patent drafting process.

A patent application is drafted, which includes the outcome of the prior art search, patent claims, and illustrations. The client will approve of the final application prior to the application being filed. The filing date of the application is when coverage begins, though the status is ‘patent pending’ until it clears prosecution and is then ‘granted’.