Freedom to Operate Analysis
Freedom to Operate Analysis
A Freedom to Operate (FTO) search, also known as a Right to Use (RTU) or Product Clearance Search, determines whether a product intended for manufacture, marketing, or sale may potentially infringe any existing enforceable patents. This analysis is crucial for reducing the risk of patent infringement litigation, particularly from competitors operating in the same technological domain. βοΈππ
Mark IP conducts reliable FTO searches by thoroughly analyzing potentially conflicting patent claims in relation to the target product or process. The analysis includes feature-to-feature claim mapping to assess the extent of overlap with third-party patent claims. ππ§©π
During the FTO analysis, Mark IP takes into account:
Jurisdictions of interest π
Patent legal status (granted, pending, expired, or abandoned) π π
Post-grant amendments or claim changes πβ οΈ
Mark IP provides a comprehensive FTO report that includes color-coded claim charts, clearly showing the overlap with relevant third-party patents and highlighting potentially infringing elements. ππβ