Non patent Literature (NPL) Search

Non-Patent Literature (NPL) Search

Because the most critical prior art isn't always found in a patent office

NPL Search — Final Code

What is an NPL Search?

A Non-Patent Literature (NPL) Search involves hunting for "prior art" in sources outside of patent databases. This includes scientific journals, conference proceedings, textbooks, thesis papers, and even old product catalogs or manuals.

NPL Search
Why Conduct This Search

Why Conduct an NPL Search?

  • Invalidity Contentions: NPL is often the "smoking gun" used to invalidate a patent by proving the technology was discussed in academic circles before the filing date.
  • Cutting-Edge Tech: In fast-moving fields like AI or Software, innovations are often published in research papers years before they appear as patents.
  • Comprehensive Defense: It provides a 360-degree view of the "State of the Art."
Our Approach

How We Do It at Intellect Bastion

  1. Multi-Source Querying: We search academic repositories like IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar.
  2. Archive Exploration: We dig into historical archives, "Wayback Machine" for web history, and industry-specific trade magazines.
  3. Foreign Language Search: We search non-English academic journals (Chinese, Japanese, German) to find overlooked global prior art.
  4. Expert Correlation: We correlate technical findings from NPL directly to the claims of the patent in question.
Why Choose IB

Why Choose Intellect Bastion for Technical Searches?

  • Technical Depth: Our team consists of PhDs and engineers who speak the language of your science.
  • Premium Access: We use paid, high-tier databases that free search tools cannot access.
  • Strategic Summaries: We don't just dump data; we explain why a specific paper or sequence matters to your case.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to top questions about Patentability Search, novelty evaluation, and the patent filing process.

Why is NPL search critical if I've already searched patent databases? ▼
Many inventors—especially in academia—publish their work in journals or at conferences without ever filing a patent. This NPL can still be used to block your patent.
Do you search academic journals (IEEE, PubMed, ScienceDirect)? ▼
Yes. We have subscriptions to all major scientific publishers (Elsevier, Wiley, IEEE, etc.) to search papers that are hidden behind paywalls.
Can you find "prior art" in old conference papers or university theses? ▼
Yes. We search university repositories and "Poster Session" abstracts from industry conferences, which are often rich sources of early-stage prior art.
How do you handle "wayback machine" searches for websites that no longer exist? ▼
We use digital archives to find and "timestamp" old web pages, proving that a specific technology was displayed to the public on a certain date.
Do you search product manuals, white papers, or trade show brochures? ▼
Yes. These "Grey Literature" sources are often the best evidence of an invention's existence before a patent was ever filed.
How do you search for NPL in foreign languages (e.g., Chinese or Russian journals)? ▼
We use native-language technical experts to search localized databases (like CNKI in China) that are not indexed in English-speaking search engines.
Can social media posts or YouTube videos be considered prior art? ▼
Yes. If a video or post "enables" someone to understand how the invention works and it was public before the filing date, it is valid prio
Is NPL search usually bundled with a patent search or sold separately? ▼
It can be both. However, for Invalidation or FTO searches, NPL is almost always included due to its high importance.
How do you verify the "publication date" of an NPL source for legal purposes? ▼
We provide "Proof of Publication" documentation, such as library stamps, "received" dates on journals, or digital certificate timestamps.
Can you find "open-source" code repositories (GitHub) for software inventions? ▼
Yes. We search GitHub, GitLab, and SourceForge to find public code commits that might predate a software patent filing.
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