Freedom
to Operate.
Active patents. Claim-level analysis. Risk-tiered. Designed to support the written opinion that follows.
One question.
High stakes.
A Freedom to Operate search identifies existing active patents that could potentially block the commercialisation or manufacture of a product in a target jurisdiction.
It answers a single high-stakes question: “Can my client make, use, sell, or import this product without infringing the claims of any in-force patent?”
The search evaluates active patents across relevant jurisdictions — assessing claim scope against product features, legal status against national registers, and family linkages to surface continuation risk.
An FTO search asks “Can I sell this?” — not “Can I patent this?” These are distinct questions. Both searches are often needed at different stages.
Looks backward in time
All prior disclosures
Expired + active patents
§102 / §103 analysis
“Can I patent this?”
Forward-looking risk
Active patents only
In-force claims only
Claim-to-product mapping
“Can I sell this?”
Right stage.
Right decision.
Before Product Launch
Identify infringement risks before manufacturing commitment.
Early R&D Stage
Guide development by identifying patent thickets early.
Pre-Investment / M&A
IP due diligence before funding rounds or acquisitions.
New Market Entry
Jurisdiction-specific clearance for new geographic markets.
What you receive
on every FTO.
Relevant Patent List
All in-force patents verified against national registers.
Element-by-Element Claim Map
Independent claims mapped against product features.
Risk Tier Summary
HIGH / REVIEW / CLEAR with written justification.
Legal Status Verification
Verified directly against national registers.
Design-Arounds & Next Steps
Practical recommendations for HIGH risk patents.
Debrief Call + Methodology
30-minute debrief included on every project.
Common questions.
What's the difference between an FTO search and an FTO opinion?+
Patentio delivers the search, claim mapping, and structured risk report. Your attorney delivers the signed written opinion based on that foundation.
Does a cleared FTO search guarantee no infringement risk?+
No FTO search provides an absolute guarantee. A thorough FTO search represents reasonable due diligence — it identifies and quantifies the risk that can be found at the time of search.
How long does an FTO search take?+
7–14 business days from confirmed scope. Multi-jurisdictional or technically complex searches are individually scoped and timeline confirmed in writing before you commit.
What jurisdictions do you cover?+
US, EP, CN, JP, KR, DE, GB, FR, IN, and PCT as standard. Additional jurisdictions available on request. Each jurisdiction is searched against its national register.
How is pricing structured?+
Fixed fee confirmed in writing before work begins. No hourly billing, no scope creep charges.
Is my project kept confidential?+
Standard confidentiality on every project. Formal NDA available on request before any details are shared.
Start your
FTO search.
Share your product description and target jurisdictions. Scope and fixed fee confirmed within one business day.