FOLIO Ontology

All actions associated with determining whether a patent claim is invalid including definition of the scope and field of search, searching, analysis of search results, and reporting the search results to the client. A validity search attempts to locate "prior art" documents and/or other information that were not considered during the examination of the corresponding patent application but appear to disclose the features recited in a patent claim. The field of the search can vary widely depending upon the technology under consideration. Work of outside vendors in conducting searches or otherwise assisting the investigation should be an expense under E100. Any formal invalidity opinion should be prepared separately under PA710.