Looking to understand how FTO Checker works?
Below are answers to the most common questions about AI-powered patent searches, prior art detection, and data privacy.
Whether you're assessing freedom to operate, patentability, or simply mapping existing IP, FTO Checker helps you make better decisions — early.
What FTO Checker does
Why use FTO Checker?
FTO Checker gives you a fast, affordable way to assess patentability and freedom to operate.
It uses multiple AI-powered search methods to explore global patent databases and top academic sources. Within 90 seconds, you receive a structured report by email with flagged patents, suggested queries, and useful technical signals.
Whether you're refining an idea, preparing a filing, or planning a launch, FTO Checker helps you spot potential challenges early — saving time, legal fees, and frustration.
You can view a sample report here.
Can I perform a patent search by myself?
You can, but it’s time-consuming, complex, and easy to get wrong.
Public databases require precise queries and technical fluency. General AI tools like ChatGPT don’t access structured patent data or apply IP search best practices.
FTO Checker automates the hard part: it rewrites your idea into multiple search formulations, scans trusted databases, and summarizes the results — instantly.
Can FTO Checker replace a full legal FTO or patentability review?
FTO Checker is a powerful first step, but it doesn’t replace legal expertise.
Our AI flags overlaps and relevant prior art — giving you a clearer picture of where you stand. But a full FTO or patentability opinion requires legal interpretation and strategic analysis.
Think of FTO Checker as a fast, affordable screening tool — ideal before investing in an attorney-led search.
What happens if FTO Checker finds overlaps?
If potential overlaps are detected, your report includes a summary of the flagged patents and the jurisdictions where they apply.
You’ll also see why each result was selected, based on shared concepts or claims. This early warning helps you evaluate next steps: explore alternative formulations, refine your invention, or seek expert advice.
FTO Checker doesn’t replace legal judgment, but it helps you prioritize and prepare before spending thousands on a full legal FTO search.
Why should I trust AI for IP searches?
AI is transforming patent searches by making them faster, more comprehensive, and less prone to human error. Traditional searches rely on manual keyword matching, which can miss relevant patents due to differences in terminology. FTO Checker uses advanced AI models to translate your invention into multiple queries, ensuring a broader, more accurate search. While AI doesn’t replace legal expertise, it significantly improves the efficiency and thoroughness of the initial screening — saving time and costs.
How FTO Checker works
Which patent databases do we search?
FTO Checker scans The Lens, a trusted, non-profit patent database that aggregates global data (EPO, USPTO, WIPO, etc.) and currently includes 163 million active patents. We also search the world's top 61 scientific journals and databases for relevant publications.
While we focus on publicly available patent data, legal IP searches may include non-public filings and expert legal analysis. Our tool is designed to give you a fast, reliable first assessment before deeper legal review.
What are our AI-powered search methods?
Patents are written in a specialized legal style that rarely matches everyday technical language. To avoid blind spots, FTO Checker doesn’t rely on a single formulation: it uses multiple AI agents to rephrase your invention, simulating how a skilled patent examiner might interpret it. This improves coverage and recall.
Without revealing our proprietary methods, we can say this approach goes beyond simple keyword matching — it's a form of agentic AI, combining reasoning and diversity to surface what matters.
How reliable is an AI-powered report?
FTO Checker is designed to maximize search coverage and precision by translating your invention into multiple queries and scanning leading IP sources.
While AI significantly improves efficiency, no automated tool can guarantee 100% accuracy — some patents use unexpected terminology or broad claims that require legal interpretation.
Our AI helps filter and prioritize potential challenges, giving you a strong first assessment before deeper legal review. For critical decisions, we recommend consulting a patent attorney.
How long does the search take?
FTO Checker delivers your report within 30 to 90 seconds. That includes advanced AI processing, multiple search formulations, scanning global patent data, and compiling the structured report — all without login or subscription.
You receive an instant overview with jurisdictions, patent matches, keywords, and follow-up suggestions. Compared to traditional FTO processes that can take weeks and cost thousands, this rapid turnaround lets you move fast while staying informed.
Privacy and confidentiality
Is my invention idea safe with FTO Checker?
Yes! Our invention description is never stored or reused, and we don’t train AI models on your input. Once the search is done, the data is automatically deleted.
We’re GDPR-compliant and work with ISO/IEC 27001-certified providers. Unlike traditional patent searches, which may involve third-party researchers or attorneys handling sensitive details, our AI-powered approach ensures full confidentiality — only you see the results.
For added security, you can use a generalized or redacted version of your invention description.
Is there a human in the loop?
FTO Checker is fully automated: no human ever sees your invention description. However, we work closely with one of Switzerland’s leading IP advisory firms to continuously improve our system.
Its experts use FTO Checker on a regular basis and provide feedback on the results and ranking quality.
This hybrid approach lets us combine the scalability of AI with real-world insight — but your individual submissions remain private, and are never reviewed unless you choose to share them.