A patent is a business asset. Not just a legal document, not just a certificate on the wall — a patent is a competitive moat, a licensing revenue stream, a deterrent to copycats, and a marker of credibility with investors. But patents only deliver that value when they're built on sound strategy. That's where our patent advisory practice comes in.
At SCIP Patents, we work with inventors, startups, and established enterprises across India and internationally — with a particular focus on technology, pharmaceutical, and deep-tech clients in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore — to help them make the right patent decisions at the right time. We don't just file applications, we help you understand what is worth protecting, how to protect it, and what to do with it once it is protected.
Patent advisory is the strategic layer of IP management. It sits above the procedural work of filing and prosecution, and answers the questions that genuinely matter to your business:
These questions do not have one-size-fits-all answers. They depend on your industry, your stage of growth, your competitive landscape, and your commercialisation plans. Our advisors — who hold qualifications spanning engineering, life sciences, and law — take the time to understand your business before they give you advice.
Before committing to a filing, we assess whether your invention meets the threshold requirements for patentability under the Patents Act, 1970: novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability. We search the prior art, analyse the landscape, and give you a clear, frank opinion on your prospects — including an honest assessment of likely claim scope. No false optimism. Just straight advice.
Launching a product without an FTO analysis is a commercial gamble. If a competitor holds a patent that covers your product or process, you could be facing an infringement suit just when your business is gaining momentum. Our FTO analyses are thorough, technically precise, and commercially focused. We identify relevant third-party patents, assess the risk of infringement, and recommend design-arounds or modifications where needed. See also our risk mitigation page for a broader framework of IP risk management.
Many inventors don’t know what they have. Our advisors work closely with your R&D teams and engineers to identify patentable concepts that might otherwise go unprotected. We help structure your invention disclosure process so that commercially valuable innovations are captured systematically — rather than lost in the day-to-day rush of product development.
Whether you are a startup filing your first patent or a mid-sized company with a growing portfolio, you need a strategy that precedes the paperwork. We help you define which inventions to pursue, in which territories, and in what order — aligned with your product roadmap, licensing ambitions and commercial priorities. Strategy first, paperwork second. For a structured approach to long-term IP planning, see our Patent Portfolio Roadmap service.
Patent prosecution covers the procedural work of drafting, filing, and shepherding an application through the patent office. Patent advisory is the strategic layer above that — helping you decide what to file, where to file, when to file, and how to use the resulting patent commercially. Both are necessary; advisory ensures prosecution effort is spent in the right direction.
Costs vary depending on the complexity of the technology and the scope of prior art to be searched. At SCIP Patents, we provide transparent, fixed-fee assessments so you know the cost before we begin.
An FTO analysis is not legally required, but it is commercially prudent for any product being launched in a competitive technology market. If a third-party patent covers your product or process, launching without an FTO assessment exposes you to infringement liability. The cost of an FTO analysis is a fraction of the cost of defending an infringement claim.
Yes. We advise on international filing strategies and work with a trusted network of foreign associates to coordinate filings in the United States, Europe, China, and other commercially significant markets. We can also advise on PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) applications as part of a global protection strategy.
Costs vary depending on the complexity of the technology and the scope of prior art to be searched. At SCIP Patents, we provide transparent, fixed-fee assessments so you know the cost before we begin.
