Google adds tool to locate “prior art” to its patent finder

Google’s new Prior Art Finder compares key phrases from patent listings and searches for them in Google Patents (and other Google databases), as well as on the Internet at large.

As a rule, patents are to be granted only if an invention is truly new and not obvious. Patent examiners have a difficult time locating data necessary to make an informed decision. As InformationWeek reports, “Prior Art Finder could help by reducing the granting of patents that don't represent genuine innovation and by helping companies accused of patent infringement identify prior art that may invalidate an infringement claim.”

[caption id="attachment_2640" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Google Prior Art Finder[/caption]