Conduct a structured prior art search to find publications, patents, products, or disclosures that predate a specific invention. Used to assess patentability (can this be patented?), challenge validity (should this patent have been granted?), or establish freedom-to-operate (is this design covered by existing rights?).
Expected: A complete decomposition with search terms for each element. The novel combination is identified — this is what the search must either find (to invalidate) or confirm is absent (to support novelty).
On failure: If the invention is too abstract to decompose, ask for a more specific description. If the claims are unclear, focus on the broadest reasonable interpretation of each claim element.
Search for prior art relevant to a specific invention or patent claim. Covers patent literature, non-patent literature (academic papers, products, open source), defensive publications, and standard-essential patents. Use when evaluating whether an invention is novel and non-obvious before filing, challenging the validity of an existing patent, supporting a freedom-to-operate analysis, documenting a defensive publication, or responding to a patent office action questioning novelty or obviousness. Source: pjt222/development-guides.