Building a Prior-Art Review Checklist Before Counsel Handoff
2026-07-29
← Back to BlogBefore sharing a prior-art workspace with patent counsel, run through a quick checklist to ensure the review is complete and the handoff is efficient. First, verify that every pinned reference has a jurisdiction tag and a one-line relevance note. Second, confirm that your keyword expansion trail is documented—what you started with, what you added, and why. Third, list the open questions that need professional judgment: novelty assessments, claim-scope interpretations, and freedom-to-operate considerations. Fourth, attach a claim-boundary note stating what the tool did and did not decide. AutoPatent workspaces are designed around this handoff pattern. The checklist is organizational, not legal advice: it does not replace professional judgment on novelty, obviousness, or infringement. It does make the handoff cheaper because the same evidence, assumptions, and open questions travel together. Contact: sapsap@qq.com.