Patent analysts review and summarize patent applications, requiring advanced knowledge in a specific field. They research and analyze similar inventions, review existing technology, and monitor industry developments. Government agencies and companies employ analysts, and salaries increase with experience.
A patent analyst reviews a patent application and summarizes the most important features as part of the application and approval process. The job requires advanced experience in a specific field, such as mechanical or pharmaceutical engineering, so that the analyst can read and understand applications for new inventions and ideas. Government agencies are major employers of analysts and can also provide consulting services to companies interested in applying for patents. Applications are long and expensive, and companies want to make sure they get it right the first time.
When a patent office receives a new application, it is assigned to a patent analyst, who reads it and the accompanying documentation carefully. The analyst creates a summary that discusses the main points, analyzing what the patent should do, what advantage it should offer and whether it offers something innovative and new. This may also include a discussion of patent details that may be relevant to understanding the patent in more detail, such as an in-depth look at supporting information provided to document originality.
At work, a patent analyst may need to do substantial research. This can include analyzing similar inventions to determine whether they are unique, reviewing existing technology, and reviewing the history of similar inventions and developments to determine whether a patent is truly non-obvious. Research and a complete summary can take weeks or months as the patent analyst gathers information and assembles it into a report. This becomes the basis used to decide whether the patent should be granted.
If a patent is denied because an application does not meet the standards, an appeal may be filed. The patent analyst can review this information and reconsider the application. Appeals can argue various specifics of the summary and denial, claiming that the analysis was incomplete or not entirely fair. Patent offices can reverse their decisions if they are satisfied that an appeal is warranted.
As part of the job, a parent analyst needs to follow the industry. This includes subscribing to trade journals, attending conferences, and monitoring other developments in the field. If the analyst is left behind, it can be more difficult to evaluate new inventions or understand the context of specific patent applications. Patent analysts typically work under a series of ranks based on experience and performance, with salaries increasing at each level.
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