If you haven’t heard of the google patent search tool, then hop aboard the google train.

Like many of google’s products such as search, photo sharing, and advertising, they make patent searches a cinch. Also, the search function is faster and quicker to use than the US Patent & Trademark Office patent search utility. You can easily view drawings with google whereas the USPTO site makes it more challenging. With google you can even download patents as a PDF to save the most relevant ones.

Notwithstanding all the pro’s of using the google patent search, there is one major drawback that has been voices by none other than patent office Commissioner John Doll. His concern with the google utility was that it did pull up the same results consistently, which is important when you are trying to make sure you conduct a thorough search. If the search for the same word turn up different results, how sure can you be that you’re not missing anything?

If nothing else, the google patent search tool is a great way to get started doing your own patent searches, although it might be recommended you use it in combination with the USPTO tool. Happy searching!