Before you bring a product to market, know exactly where you stand legally. Our comprehensive FTO analyses identify and assess active patents that may impact your ability to commercialize — so you can launch with confidence.
A Freedom to Operate (FTO) analysis — also called a patent clearance search or right-to-use analysis — is a legal and technical investigation to determine whether your product, process, or technology can be manufactured, sold, or commercialized in a specific jurisdiction without infringing the claims of any active, enforceable third-party patents.
Unlike a novelty search (which asks whether your invention is patentable), an FTO search focuses specifically on whether someone else already holds patent rights that could block your commercial activities — even if you invented your technology independently.
The output is a structured opinion that identifies blocking patents, assesses their claim scope, evaluates expiry and jurisdictional status, and recommends strategies to mitigate risk.
Companies risk costly patent litigation, injunctions that halt sales, mandatory royalty payments, forced product recalls, and damaged investor confidence.
You receive a clear risk map of your patent landscape, actionable mitigation strategies, confidence for investor and regulatory presentations, and a documented defence posture.
An FTO analysis is not just due diligence — it's a strategic business decision that protects your investment and unlocks market access.
Avoid costly patent litigation by identifying risks before launch
Satisfy investor due diligence requirements pre-funding
Validate compliance before FDA or CE regulatory submissions
Inform product design decisions before engineering investment
Enable licensing and cross-licensing negotiations from a position of knowledge
Protect your company from injunctions and damage awards
Every FTO analysis follows a battle-tested five-stage process designed to maximize coverage and minimize the risk of overlooked threats.
We work with your technical team to decompose the product or process into patentable features and functional elements that will drive our search strategy.
Our analysts conduct comprehensive searches across USPTO, EPO, WIPO, JPO, CNIPA, and supplementary databases, covering all jurisdictions material to your commercialization plans.
Each retrieved patent undergoes relevancy scoring. Shortlisted patents are claim-charted against your product's technical features to assess infringement potential.
Patents are stratified by risk level (High / Medium / Low). We provide a written opinion with clear rationale, enabling your legal team to make informed commercialization decisions.
Where blocking patents are identified, we propose design-around strategies — technical modifications that circumvent infringing claims while preserving core functionality.
Our analysts bring deep domain knowledge to every project, ensuring technically accurate and industry-relevant analyses.
Deepen your understanding of Freedom to Operate analyses with our expert-authored articles.
Before launching a new product, understanding your legal exposure to third-party patents is not optional — it's essential. A Freedom to Operate search gives your business the clarity to move forward confidently.
Dr. Priya Mehta
Feb 10, 2026
Medical devices operate within one of the most heavily patented technology spaces globally. An FTO analysis tailored for this sector requires deep technical and regulatory expertise.
Dr. Arjun Kapoor
Jan 15, 2026
Our FTO analysts are ready to assess your product. Most engagements begin with a complimentary 30-minute scoping call.
