Learn

How to search patents for free

The main patent offices run free public search tools that cover patents and published applications from many countries.

• The USPTO's Patent Public Search lets anyone search its database of US patents and patent application publications.¹
• The USPTO's Global Dossier shows dossier information for all applications in a patent family filed at participating IP offices.¹
• Patent and Trademark Resource Centers are libraries across the United States that help people search patents in person.¹
• The European Patent Office's Espacenet gives free access to information about inventions from 1782 to today, with worldwide coverage.²
• WIPO's PATENTSCOPE is a free search of international applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty and of many national collections. PCT applications appear in full text on the day of publication.³

Sources

1. United States Patent and Trademark Office, Search for patents (accessed 2026-10-27)
2. European Patent Office, Espacenet, patent search (accessed 2026-10-27)
3. World Intellectual Property Organization, PATENTSCOPE (accessed 2026-10-27)