By verifying the existence and relevance of documents and cross-referencing publication dates, patent searchers can avoid these pitfalls. This thorough approach ensures that all possible prior art is considered, strengthening the belgium number for whatsapp argument for patent invalidity. III) Line Drawing on the Critical Date In a patent invalidity search, it is common practice to focus entirely on references published before the critical date, which is usually the filing date or priority date of the patent application.
While this approach is logical and often effective, it can also be a hindrance if it results in the automatic exclusion of references published soon after the critical date. Patent searchers should avoid the mistake of ignoring publications within a year of the critical date.
