What is an FTO analysis?

An FTO analysis involves a patent attorney searching existing patents to determine whether a certain product infringes any existing patents. An FTO analysis requires a comparison of the claims of an existing patent to a certain product. Existing patents are usually located on the online database at www.uspto.gov.

When would I want an FTO analysis?

An FTO analysis may be extremely valuable when bringing a new product to market or when accused of infringement by a patent holder. An FTO analysis may prevent costly litigation and attorneys’ fees associated with alleged infringement.