Following some basic guidelines for analyzing patents can add value to your assessment.
EDN:
Patents continue to be an increasing part of every electronics engineer’s work. Whether it is the result of ever-increasing numbers of patents issuing, or from the high cost of hiring patent attorneys to review these patents, more and more electronics engineers are being asked to take a ‘first cut’ at reviewing a competitor’s patent. By applying a framework to your review and with knowledge of a few basic patent principles, you will save time and enhance the value of your analysis.
Begin the analysis by appreciating that a patent serves multiple functions. The functions include:
a) disclosing the activities of a company in a particular field at a point in time,
b) providing a legal right to stop or limit others from doing something, and
c) preventing others from patenting the same concept later.
Therefore, break your analysis into a framework of:
a) Competitor Research,
b) Avoiding Infringement, and
c) Prior Art.
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