An FTO search checks whether launching, making, using, or selling a product in a target country could infringe existing patents. It identifies active patent claims that may block your product.

Without an FTO search, businesses risk lawsuits, injunctions, damages, or forced redesigns. A proper search reduces legal exposure and gives confidence to investors, partners, and customers.

Patentability checks if your idea can be patented, while FTO ensures you can legally commercialize it without infringing others’ rights. A novelty search asks: Can I get a patent? An FTO search asks: Can I launch without infringing others? Both are important but serve very different purposes.

FTO should be done before launching a new product, entering a new market, raising investment, or signing a licensing/M&A deal.

Only the countries where you plan to make, use, sell, or import the product. Patents are territorial, so clearance must be jurisdiction-specific.

Yes, we provide detailed FTO reports along with legal opinions to guide safe market entry.

No search can guarantee zero risk, since pending or hidden applications may exist. But it provides a clear risk assessment and a defensible position backed by legal opinion.

Costs vary based on product complexity and number of countries. A focused single-market search may be affordable, while global FTO projects require larger budgets.

Professional IP searchers and patent attorneys should perform FTO. Automated tools help, but expert claim analysis is critical for accurate results.