Once upon a time I studied thermodynamics. I was told that the
first time you study thermodynamics you don't know what you are
doing; the second time you think you know what you are doing; and
the third time you know you don't know what you are doing, but
by that time it's too late so you just get on and do it. Patent
searching is a bit like thermodynamics in that respect. It may seem
difficult at first and then appear easier, but a little confidence
can be a dangerous thing. There is more to patent searching than
entering a few keywords and numbers.
Your intentions define what type of search you need to do. If
you have an idea for a product that you want to protect then a
novelty or patentability search is required. If you want to import
a product into a country or start using a new product then a
freedom-to-operate search is required. These two types of searches
have vastly different requirements. Freedom-to-operate searches are
relevant to a specific country you
