Prior-art and clearance searches

A prior-art or clearance search identifies earlier rights or existing documents that could stand in the way of your project.

For a trademark, it covers identical or similar signs already filed or registered for comparable goods or services. For a patent, it aims to identify earlier documents relevant to the invention.

What we do

• Trademark clearance searches
• Patent prior-art searches
• Analysis of results and reasoned opinion
• Recommendations on the next steps for the project

Analysis of and opinion on the results

A list of results is not enough: the degree of similarity between signs, the proximity of goods or services, or the relevance of the documents found must still be assessed. The firm provides an analysis and an opinion to inform your decision.

A search reduces uncertainty without eliminating it: it depends on the sources consulted and on the date on which it is carried out.

The information on this page is general. It does not constitute legal advice and does not prejudge the outcome of any procedure, which depends on each case and on the applicable law.