Patent Search
Search here for existing intellectual property rights
Why is a patent search so important?
For an invention to become a patent, it must be novel worldwide. Early patent searches help identify previously published patents and serve as an important basis for deciding your next steps.
Patent search: the options
Conduct the search yourself or have the experts at the Austrian Patent Office do it for you. You can find all the options here.
Self-Search
Would you like to know if your invention is novel worldwide? Here you can search for prior art yourself in free databases
Search and Written Opinion § 57a Patent Act
Is your invention novel worldwide, inventive, and industrially applicable? Our professionals conduct a search for prior art
Search and Written Opinion § 57b Patent Act
Would your patent withstand a challenge? Our professionals help you find out how robust your patent is in the light of prior art
EP Search
Does your invention have potential for a European patent? Find out – with the help of our professionals
Invention Disclosure Search
Quick clarity for universities and universities of applied sciences: get a detailed search as a basis for deciding whether to pursue a patent application
Due to maintenance work, there will be short outages in the register database see.ip on August 25, 2026, between 13:00 and 14:00. We appreciate your understanding.
Free DOIs for Innovations from Research
A patent number protects your invention legally – a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) makes it part of the international digital knowledge infrastructure.
As a service for researchers, the Austrian Patent Office assigns DOIs for published patent applications and patent specifications – free of charge. This keeps your innovation permanently visible, citable, and easier to find.