What is the difference between a patent and a non-patent literature search?

A patent is an exclusive intellectual property right granted by the government to an inventor for an invention, which can include machines, processes, chemicals, or compositions of matter. A non-patent literature search is a broader research tool that can be used to locate anything published, including books, articles, patents, and other sources. The main difference between a patent and a non-patent literature search is that the patent search only focuses on material that is related to patentable inventions. This is because a patent search is seeking to establish whether an invention is novel and not already in the public domain. To carry out the search, the patent examiner will use a combination of databases and search terms to find documents specifically related to the invention. In contrast, the non-patent literature search is much broader and includes anything related to the invention or the field of invention. A non-patent literature search can be used to find information that is not eligible for protection by a patent. It is also used to find material to support a patent application, such as prior art. This search is conducted using databases such as Google Scholar and academic journals. Overall, a patent search seeks to establish whether an invention is novel and not already in the public domain whilst a non-patent literature search is much broader and can be used to find any material related to the invention or the field of invention.

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What is the difference between a patent and a non-patent literature search?

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