Patent searching often means inexact results and endless browsing—not to mention sticker shock for your client or your organization. That's because it often involves typing a Terms and Connectors query, wading through the pile of results to identify the relevant documents, and then endlessly modifying and rerunning your query.

Isn't there a better way? In fact, there is: Claims Locator, recently released on Westlaw.

With Claims Locator, you aren't handcuffed to your search terms. Type a patent or patent application number or paste a chunk of text from your own patent or application in the appropriate text box and click Go. Claims Locator retrieves a preliminary result and integrates additional material such as patent and abstract classification numbers into your search. You retrieve highly relevant documents, which may be related to your own patent or application on many levels. Your result list—which may contain up to 100 documents—is ranked by relevance.

Claims Locator is thus ideal for the following users:

• patent filers searching for prior art and "clearance research" in a particular field
• inventors and patent attorneys staying current on technology advances
• patent litigators searching for patents relevant to their litigation
• corporations identifying potential infringers or licensing partners

How do I access Claims Locator? You will find a link to Claims Locator in the left frame of the tabbed Patent Counsel, Patent Practitioner, or Westlaw Patents page on Westlaw and on the Links tab of any U.S. patent or patent application.