patent-fto-search

Patent FTO search

Use this skill when a question asks whether a molecule or scaffold appears in patent literature, requests chemical prior-art leads, or needs an initial freedom-to-operate screen. Use the patent structure tools instead of treating a PubChem CID lookup as a novelty search.

Workflow

1. Confirm the query is a valid SMILES and identify whether the whole molecule or a smaller commercially meaningful scaffold should be searched.
2. Call patent_substructure_search. Keep structure_limit and patent_limit modest on the first pass.
3. When the result is pending, call patent_structure_search_results with the returned search_id. Reuse the same ID until it reaches complete; do not resubmit the query.
4. Preserve the matched-structure evidence when ranking patent hits. Do not report a patent as a match solely because its title sounds relevant.
5. Fetch short-listed records with patent_metadata. Set include_claims=true for claim review; if claims_truncated is true, raise text_char_limit up to 20000 or inspect the source record.
6. Report publication identifiers, dates, applicants, earliest priority date, family ID, relevant claims, and the exact query structure. Separate direct evidence from inference.

Interpretation rules

• A hit means SureChEMBL associated an extracted structure containing the query subgraph with a patent document. It does not establish that a live claim covers the contemplated activity.
• Check claims, family members, jurisdictions, prosecution history, ownership, expiry, and current status before making an FTO decision.
• Automated text and image extraction can miss structures or create false positives.
• Markush claims and functional language can cover compounds that were never enumerated as an extracted exact structure.
• Provider legal events are leads only. Verify them in the relevant official register.

Stop and state the coverage limit when the structure search is capped, repeatedly fails at the provider, or the decision depends on legal claim construction. Never label this screen as legal clearance or a complete novelty opinion.