# prior-art-search

Searches patents and academic papers across MCP servers to evaluate technical novelty and prior art.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · ★ 110
- Author: illusionaireal
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/illusionaireal/oh-my-patent/tree/HEAD/src/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-12
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/prior-art-search

## What it does

The skill retrieves prior art references using targeted technical queries. It queries external patent and academic repositories via MCP backends: `google_scholar`, `uspto_patent`, `semantic_scholar`, `cnipa_patent`, and `patsnap_search`. The `google_scholar` server is the only required dependency.

All findings are saved to the `references/` directory. The skill creates an aggregated report in `references/landscape_{topic_slug}.md` with classification codes, alongside individual evidence files `references/{source}_{id}.md` containing relevance scores, citations, and novelty notes.

Jurisdictions `EP` and `JP` are unsupported. When searching European or Japanese documents, drop the jurisdiction parameter or use `PCT` instead. Configuring `patsnap_search` requires a separate API key and Streamable HTTP transport rather than traditional stdio.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add illusionaireal/oh-my-patent --skill prior-art-search -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/prior-art-search/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add illusionaireal/oh-my-patent --skill prior-art-search -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add illusionaireal/oh-my-patent --skill prior-art-search -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install illusionaireal/oh-my-patent prior-art-search
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add illusionaireal/oh-my-patent --skill prior-art-search -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/illusionaireal/oh-my-patent --path src/skills/prior-art-search
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add illusionaireal/oh-my-patent --skill prior-art-search -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/illusionaireal/oh-my-patent/tree/HEAD/src/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- Retrieve prior art and academic papers for novelty assessment
- Compile an aggregated patent landscape report in markdown format
- Generate individual evidence cards with patent classification codes
- Screen technical publications across global patent databases

## Example prompts
- Search prior art on homomorphic encryption privacy-preserving computation for the last 5 years.
- Analyze patents and papers on federated learning in medical data using uspto_patent and semantic_scholar for jurisdiction CN.
- Run a broad patent landscape search on zero-knowledge proof identity authentication across all sources.

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 60cf4d9fed01b763.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 60cf4d9fed01b763
````text
---
name: prior-art-search
description: Use when searching patents and technical literature for prior art, novelty, or patentability assessment.
---

# Prior Art Search Skill

Search existing patents and technical literature to identify prior art for novelty and patentability assessment.

## Overview

This skill integrates with multiple MCP servers (Google Scholar, USPTO, Semantic Scholar) to conduct comprehensive prior art searches across patents, academic papers, and technical documentation.

## Usage

The skill is typically invoked by the `patent-landscape-analyst` agent during the RESEARCH stage of the patent workflow.

### Basic Usage Pattern

```typescript
// The skill is invoked through agent orchestration
// Agent: patent-landscape-analyst
// Input: topic keywords, technical domain
// Output: aggregated landscape report
```

## Input Parameters

### Required
- **query**: Search keywords and technical terms
  - Example: `"homomorphic encryption privacy-preserving computation"`

### Optional
- **searchScope**: Time range for results
  - Default: Last 5 years
  - Options: `1year`, `3years`, `5years`, `10years`, `all`

- **maxResultsPerSource**: Maximum results from each source
  - Default: 5
  - Range: 1-20

- **sources**: Which databases to query
  - Default: All enabled MCP servers
  - Options: `google_scholar`, `uspto_patent`, `semantic_scholar`, `cnipa_patent`, `patsnap_search`

- **jurisdiction**: Filter by patent jurisdiction
  - Default: All jurisdictions
  - Options: `CN`, `US`, `PCT`
  - `EP` / `JP` are **not supported** (REQ-017): if the user asks for them, say so
    explicitly, then proceed without a jurisdiction filter (or suggest `PCT` for
    international filings). Never pass an unsupported code downstream.

## Output Format

### Primary Output
**File**: `references/landscape_{topic_slug}.md`

Contains aggregated search results organized by:
- Patent references (with classification codes)
- Academic literature
- Technical standards
- Industry implementations

### Secondary Output
**Files**: `references/{source}_{id}.md`

Individual evidence cards for each finding:
- Full citation
- Abstract/summary
- Relevance score
- Key technical features
- Novelty comparison notes

## Examples

### Example 1: Basic Prior Art Search

```markdown
<!-- Invoked by patent-landscape-analyst -->

Input:
- Topic: "blockchain-based cross-border payment with privacy"
- Scope: Last 5 years
- Max results: 10 per source

Output:
references/landscape_blockchain-cross-border-payment.md
  - 8 relevant patents (USPTO, EPO, CNIPA)
  - 12 academic papers (Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar)
  - 3 technical standards (ISO, IEEE)

references/uspto_US10123456.md
references/cnipa_CN108234567.md
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 60cf4d9fed01b763

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