01
Assess patent strength
Evaluate the available prior-art record around granted claims and the patentability of pending claims.
AI-assisted · expert-led · evidence-driven
Patent Validity Search Services
Evaluate patent strength with evidence-driven validity searches.
Hashi IP Solutions combines patent expertise, structured prior-art research and AI-assisted discovery to identify relevant evidence, assess claim-level relevance and support informed IP, litigation, licensing and portfolio decisions.
Selected claims. Relevant dates. Traceable evidence.
Licensing & acquisition
Disputes & opposition
Portfolio & R&D decisions
Evidence before decisions
Why Patent Validity Searches Matter
A patent's commercial importance does not tell you how its claims compare with the available prior art. A scoped investigation helps make evidence, assumptions and uncertainties visible.
02
Prepare for disputes
Identify relevant technical evidence for counsel-led challenges, opposition and litigation preparation.
03
Negotiate with evidence
Bring claim-level observations and unresolved limitations into licensing and settlement discussions.
04
Support acquisitions
Investigate evidence affecting the patents under consideration before a transaction.
05
Inform investment
Understand claim-strength uncertainties before significant R&D or commercialization commitments.
06
Review strategic assets
Connect evidence about your own or competitor claims to portfolio and competitive decisions.
Related methods. Distinct objectives.
Supporting Validity Is Not the Same as Seeking Invalidity.
Both objectives require an honest review of the evidence. Contrary disclosures and unresolved limitations are reported—not filtered out to support a preferred conclusion.
Validity search
Investigates evidence supporting the validity of granted claims, while identifying prior art that may affect that assessment. Pending claims are examined in relation to patentability requirements.
Invalidity search
Investigates prior art and other relevant technical evidence that may challenge claim validity. The objective, relevant grounds and evidentiary depth are agreed for the matter.
Explore Invalidity SearchSearch findings and technical assessments do not establish legal validity, guarantee that a patent will survive a challenge, or constitute a legal opinion. Qualified patent counsel should assess the applicable law, claim interpretation and facts.
Research capabilities
Our Patent Validity Search Capabilities
From disclosure discovery to claim-level interpretation, the investigation follows the patent, the technical field and the jurisdiction—not a universal checklist.
Prior-Art Identification
Search patent publications and relevant non-patent literature for disclosures that may affect the claims under review.
Claim-Level Analysis
Map disclosures to individual limitations, including technical relationships, interpretation assumptions and missing elements.
Novelty and Inventive-Step Assessment
Examine the evidence relevant to novelty and inventive step or obviousness under the jurisdiction and agreed scope; legal application remains with counsel.
Patent Family and Citation Analysis
Review related applications, backward and forward citations and relevant technical references to trace disclosures.
Technical Literature Research
Investigate scientific publications, standards, technical papers and product documentation where relevant, with source and public-availability checks.
Evidence and Reference Mapping
Organize traceable reference tables, claim charts, excerpts and chronology, making evidence gaps explicit.
01
Selected claims
Elements · limitations · relationships
02
Source evidence
Disclosures · public availability · chronology
03
Expert assessment
Coverage · gaps · qualified counsel review
Commercial checkpoints
When Should You Commission a Validity Search?
Define the question before defining the search. Litigation and opposition-related work may require additional legal analysis by qualified patent counsel.
- 01Before licensing or acquiring a patent
- 02During opposition or invalidation planning
- 03When responding to an infringement allegation
- 04Before settlement or licensing negotiations
- 05During portfolio due diligence
- 06When evaluating competitor patent strength
- 07Before significant R&D or commercialization investment
Six-step methodology
From Search Objective to Evidence You Can Review
The research record distinguishes technical disclosures, source chronology, analytical observations and questions requiring legal assessment.
- 01
Define the Search Objective
Agree the target patent or publication, selected claims, jurisdiction, relevant dates, technical scope and intended use of the findings.
- 02
Analyze the Claims
Decompose independent and dependent claims into elements and relationships; build search concepts, synonyms, classifications and source priorities.
- 03
Conduct Structured Searches
Investigate agreed patent sources, families, citations and non-patent literature. Record queries, coverage and cut-off assumptions.
- 04
Apply AI-Assisted Discovery and Expert Review
Use semantic discovery where appropriate, followed by expert relevance screening, source verification and technical interpretation.
- 05
Map Evidence to Claims
Identify pinpoint passages, publication details, chronology and limitations. Distinguish single-reference disclosure from proposed combinations and flag gaps.
- 06
Deliver Findings and Strategic Insights
Provide a structured report of scope, references, claim-level evidence, limitations and observations for business and qualified legal-team review.
What you receive
A Structured Evidence Record. Not Just a Reference List.
Deliverables depend on the agreed scope and are designed for inspection, discussion and further investigation.
- Patent validity search report
- Target patent and selected-claim analysis
- Relevant patent and non-patent literature references
- Bibliographic details and relevant publication dates
- Claim-to-reference mapping or evidence charts
- Annotated technical passages and figures
- Patent family and citation findings
- Search strategy, sources and scope limitations
- Executive summary and areas for further investigation
Legal opinions, formal invalidity conclusions and expert testimony are not implied by a search report. Publication, priority, filing and public-access dates are distinct; their legal significance requires jurisdiction-specific review.
Why Hashi IP Solutions
AI Finds Candidates. Experts Review Their Significance.
AI-assisted discovery
Semantic retrieval complements structured patent and technical literature research; it does not replace source review.
Claim-centric research
Evidence is assessed against the selected limitations, rather than treated as relevant simply because a document is similar.
Technical understanding
Expert interpretation connects technical disclosures to the claim language and the engagement's business objective.
Traceable outputs
Pinpoint citations, chronology, assumptions and gaps make the findings easier to inspect and discuss.
Team-oriented support
Research scoped for legal teams, patent professionals, R&D leaders, enterprises, startups and portfolio managers.
Confidential, defined scope
Agree source coverage, information handling, responsibilities and deliverables before research begins. NDA available upon request.
Scope your research
Discuss the Patent. Define the Evidence You Need.
Share a public identifier and your objective. We can discuss the selected claims, jurisdictions, source coverage and depth appropriate to your matter.
Non-confidential context only. Do not include invention secrets or privileged communications. NDA available upon request; agree a secure sharing process before sending documents.
info@hashiip.comDiscuss Your PatentCommon questions
Patent Validity Search FAQs
What is a patent validity search?
It investigates the available prior-art record and claim-level evidence relevant to assessing a granted patent's strength. For pending claims, the assessment concerns patentability rather than an existing granted right. Scope and applicable requirements depend on the jurisdiction; search findings are not a legal determination.
What is the difference between a validity search and an invalidity search?
A validity search investigates evidence supporting claim validity while openly reporting contrary evidence and gaps. An invalidity search is directed at evidence that may challenge claims. They share research methods but have different objectives, and neither guarantees a legal outcome.
How does a patent validity search differ from a freedom to operate search?
Validity concerns evidence relevant to claim strength. FTO assesses potential infringement exposure associated with relevant third-party claims and a product in specific markets. Owning a strong patent does not itself establish freedom to operate.
What sources are examined during a validity search?
Agreed sources may include patent publications, families, citations, scientific papers, standards, manuals and other relevant public technical disclosures. Source coverage, publication chronology and public-availability verification are defined for the engagement.
Can a validity search help identify prior art against granted patents?
Yes. Relevant disclosures may reveal weaknesses even when the objective is to evaluate supporting evidence. Findings are reported objectively and can inform a separately scoped invalidity investigation or qualified counsel's assessment.
How are patent claims evaluated against prior-art references?
Selected claims are divided into technical limitations and relationships. Cited passages and figures are mapped to each element, identifying disclosed features, missing limitations and interpretation assumptions. Single-reference disclosures and combinations are distinguished.
Can AI assist with patent validity searches?
AI can assist semantic discovery, grouping and initial comparison. Experts verify source evidence, chronology and claim-level relevance. AI alone cannot determine legal validity.
What information should I provide to initiate a validity search?
Provide a public patent or publication number, the claims of interest if known, relevant jurisdictions and a non-confidential description of the objective. Agree an appropriate confidential-sharing process before sending sensitive documents or privileged communications.
Can validity search findings support patent litigation or opposition proceedings?
They can support technical research, claim mapping and evidence review. Legal strategy, procedural requirements, admissibility and conclusions require qualified counsel. A search report does not promise litigation-ready testimony or an outcome.
What deliverables are included in a patent validity search report?
Depending on the agreed scope: an executive summary, target-claim analysis, reference details and dates, claim mappings, annotated excerpts, family and citation findings, and a record of sources, methodology, assumptions and limitations. Legal opinions are not implied.
Different questions. Different research.
Related IP Services
FTO investigates potential infringement exposure; validity investigates evidence relevant to claim strength. One search does not substitute for the other.
Freedom to Operate Search
Assess potential infringement exposure associated with relevant claims and your product in target jurisdictions.
Patent Invalidity Search
Investigate prior art and technical evidence that may challenge selected patent claims.
Patent Search Services
Choose a research scope around your invention, technology or commercial question.
Patent Landscape Services
Map technologies, competitors, patent trends and strategic opportunities.
Patent Portfolio Services
Assess technical coverage and strategic relevance across a portfolio.
Start with the evidence
Know What Supports the Claims Before Your Next Decision.
Discuss a public patent identifier and a non-confidential objective. Define the research you need for your legal, licensing, investment or portfolio review.