How Can I Check to See If My Invention Hasn't Been Already Patented?

One of the best ways to make sure your invention hasn’t already been patented is to search the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Full-Text and Image Database. In order to search this site, you enter a term and select a field to search.

There are a host of law firms specializing in patents, copyrights, trademarks that can also conduct a patent search for you. You can find a law firm to conduct a patent search for you on Google or Yahoo! by searching for the term "patent search company."