Pre-Product Launch
Evaluate patent infringement risks before bringing a product to market. Gain insights and make informed decisions before considering licensing protected technologies.
Freedom to Operate Search
Identify potential patent infringement risks before launching a new product or entering a new market with our freedom to operate search services
What is a freedom to operate search?
Before launching a new product or service or entering a new market, it is imperative to evaluate if one has “freedom to operate (FTO).” A Freedom to Operate Search, also called a clearance search, is conducted to determine if a product or service infringes upon any patented technologies within a given jurisdiction.
An FTO search identifies potentially infringing elements such as product features, subsystems, or components. It can identify infringement risks not only from existing patents but also from pending patent applications or “potential future rights.” This makes a freedom-to-operate search or a patent clearance search a critical step in reducing the risk of costly litigation or product launch delays.
Why is a freedom to operate search needed?
An FTO search identifies potentially infringing elements such as product features, subsystems, or components. It can identify infringement risks not only from existing patents but also from pending patent applications or “potential future rights.” This makes a freedom-to-operate search or a patent clearance search a critical step in reducing the risk of costly litigation or product launch delays.
When should you conduct a Freedom to Operate search?
We partner with clients to deliver FTO search and analysis aligned with each stage of the innovation process.
Get in touchWhat is a Freedom to Operate opinion?
A Freedom to Operate Opinion, also known as a clearance opinion, is a legal assessment provided by a patent attorney. The opinion, based on the results of the FTO search, provides guidance on whether the product or service can be commercialized or brought to new markets without infringing upon existing patent rights in a certain jurisdiction.
At Parola Analytics, we work with patent attorneys and trusted IP firms to provide clients with FTO Search and FTO Opinion. This end-to-end support helps businesses gain insights, reduce patent risks, and move forward with commercialization with an informed IP strategy.
Clients who engage us for both services get preferential rates, ensuring a more streamlined process at competitive costs.
What our clients are saying
“The first search Parola Analytics, Inc. performed for us provided the key reference supporting our invalidity position on a patent we were evaluating.”
Sean M. Dean, Ph.D.
Fish & Richardson
"Parola analysts uncovered prior art that even opposing counsel’s team could not during litigation.
The quality of their work and deeper understanding of the subject matter were instrumental to the case that we eventually won.”
The quality of their work and deeper understanding of the subject matter were instrumental to the case that we eventually won.”
Saqib J. Siddiqui
Mayer Brown
“We have worked with Parola on two matters, and both times, Parola delivered outstanding results.
Parola’s highly-relevant search results and reports demonstrated a thorough understanding of the patent claims.”
Parola’s highly-relevant search results and reports demonstrated a thorough understanding of the patent claims.”
Daniel Kiang
Knobbe Martens
“Vincent Violago and his excellent team at Parola Analytics provide high quality, detailed, prior art search results with minimal oversight and handholding.
These guys are highly educated and experienced in their field and work together with great efficiency. The work product is top-notch.” Read more
These guys are highly educated and experienced in their field and work together with great efficiency. The work product is top-notch.” Read more
James A. Fussell III
Mayer Brown
“The team at Parola Analytics did an excellent job in providing us with the highest-quality prior art research service.
The team’s search report highlighted the best prior art references with an easy-to-understand format. In short, the team proved itself.”
The team’s search report highlighted the best prior art references with an easy-to-understand format. In short, the team proved itself.”
Ryan Phelan
Marshall, Gerstein & Borun
"We have been impressed with Parola Analytics search results for mechanical devices and software-related inventions.
Each report impacted the decision regarding how to proceed with IP protection."
Each report impacted the decision regarding how to proceed with IP protection."
John Boyd
FisherBroyles
“Parola Analytics is our trusted partner for prior art search contests on PATROLL, Unified Patent’s crowdsourcing platform.
With their expertise in prior art searching, Vincent and his team at Parola Analytics are valuable partners in reviewing prior art submissions to our contests." Read more
With their expertise in prior art searching, Vincent and his team at Parola Analytics are valuable partners in reviewing prior art submissions to our contests." Read more
Sam Jaffna
Unified Patents
“I recently engaged Parola Analytics to conduct a prior art search on a difficult U.S. patent that had already stymied another search firm that delivered two unusable references.
Parola found four much better references in two weeks that demonstrated a deeper understanding of the search and an effective selection of the best references."
Parola found four much better references in two weeks that demonstrated a deeper understanding of the search and an effective selection of the best references."
Barry Shelton
Shelton Coburn
"Parola’s success is based on a singular strength, the quality of its analysts.
With their scientific and engineering background, coupled with their keen insights into emerging technologies and trends, Parola’s team proved the ideal partner for Fastinform in our complex and time-sensitive challenge." Read more
With their scientific and engineering background, coupled with their keen insights into emerging technologies and trends, Parola’s team proved the ideal partner for Fastinform in our complex and time-sensitive challenge." Read more
Marius Meland
Founder, Law360
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Freedom to Operate / Clearance Search FAQs
What is a Freedom to Operate (FTO) search?
A Freedom to Operate (FTO) search, also known as a clearance search, helps determine whether launching a product, process, or technology could potentially infringe existing patents. This type of prior art search provides insights into the potential legal risks associated with bringing an innovation to market.
When should I conduct a freedom to operate search?
It is advisable to conduct an FTO search before launching a new product, entering a new market, or investing in product development. Gaining insights on potential infringements allows you to make changes in design, inform your IP strategy or market planning.
What does a freedom to operate search?
A freedom to operate search analyzes existing patents and patent applications in a given jurisdiction. The search identifies patent claims that your product, service, or method could potentially infringe. A clearance search is typically bound by region (US, EU, China, etc), depending on where you want to market.
What is the difference between a freedom to operate search and a patentability search?
While both searches review existing patents, a patentability search focuses on assessing the novelty (and to some extent, the non-obviousness) of an invention. A patentability search may include a search on both patent and non-patent sources. A freedom to operate search determines if your product, service, or process infringes on existing patents. This type of search tends to focus on patent literature. The searches serve different purposes, but are often complementary.