# prior-art-search

Searches patent databases and academic literature for prior art relevant to an invention. Generates a Markdown report before filing.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 487 installs · ★ 18090
- Author: wanshuiyin
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep/tree/HEAD/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/wanshuiyin-prior-art-search

## What it does

The skill reads an invention description directly from arguments or from `patent/INVENTION_BRIEF.md`. It extracts core inventive concepts, predicts IPC or CPC classification codes, and queries Google Patents alongside Espacenet. In parallel, it queries Google Scholar, arXiv, and Semantic Scholar for non-patent technical literature.

Analysis limits are capped at 20 patent documents and 15 academic papers spanning up to 10 years back. Semantic Scholar queries fall back to WebSearch unless you configure an API key.

The final findings land in `patent/PRIOR_ART_REPORT.md` with relevance ratings, overlap risks, and preliminary freedom-to-operate notes. This report helps spot blocking patents early, though it cannot substitute for formal patent attorney analysis.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep --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 wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep --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 wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep --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 wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep 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 wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep --skill prior-art-search -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep --path 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 wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep --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/wanshuiyin/Auto-claude-code-research-in-sleep/tree/HEAD/skills/prior-art-search/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- search patent disclosures across Google Patents and Espacenet
- identify relevant IPC and CPC classification codes
- scan arXiv and Google Scholar for prior academic literature
- generate a preliminary freedom-to-operate report in Markdown

## Example prompts
- Search prior art for the invention described in `patent/INVENTION_BRIEF.md`
- Check patents and literature for our new neural network quantization method
- Run a prior art search for this caching architecture

## 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: df10f47a9c7b87cf.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE df10f47a9c7b87cf
````text
---
name: prior-art-search
description: "Search patent databases and academic literature for prior art relevant to an invention. Use when user says \"现有技术检索\", \"prior art search\", \"专利检索\", \"check patents\", or wants to find relevant prior art."
argument-hint: "[invention-description-or-path]"
allowed-tools: Bash(*), Read, Glob, Grep, WebSearch, WebFetch, Write
---

# Prior Art Search

Search patents and literature for prior art relevant to: **$ARGUMENTS**

Adapted from `/research-lit` for patent-specific searching.

## Constants

- `MAX_PATENT_RESULTS = 20` — Maximum patent documents to analyze in detail
- `MAX_PAPER_RESULTS = 15` — Maximum academic papers to analyze in detail
- `SEARCH_YEARS = 10` — How many years back to search
- `PATENT_DATABASES = "google-patents, espacenet"` — Patent databases to search

## Inputs

Read the invention description from:
1. `$ARGUMENTS` if it contains technical details
2. `patent/INVENTION_BRIEF.md` if it exists
3. `INVENTION_BRIEF.md` if it exists at project root

## Shared References

Load `../shared-references/prior-art-databases.md` for search strategy templates and IPC/CPC classification guidance.

## Workflow

### Step 1: Extract Search Concepts

From the invention description, identify:
1. **Core inventive concept**: The primary technical contribution (1-2 sentences)
2. **Technical problem**: What problem it solves
3. **Key technical features**: 4-6 specific technical elements that define the invention
4. **IPC/CPC classes**: Predict relevant classification codes (e.g., G06N, G06F)

### Step 2: Patent Search

For EACH search concept, search via:

**Google Patents** (via WebSearch):
```
WebSearch: "site:patents.google.com [keywords]"
WebSearch: "[keywords] patent"
```
- Try primary keywords + technical problem keywords
- Search in English regardless of target jurisdiction
- For CN inventions, also search Chinese keywords via WebSearch

**Espacenet** (via WebFetch):
- WebFetch worldwide.espacenet.com/search results for key queries
- Search by predicted IPC/CPC classes

**Assignee/Inventor Search**:
- If known companies/universities work in this area, search their patent portfolios
- WebSearch: "[assignee name] patent [technical area]"

For each potentially relevant patent found:
- WebFetch the patent page to extract: title, abstract, representative claims, filing date, assignee, current status
- Record IPC/CPC classification codes

### Step 3: Academic Literature Search

Search the same concepts in academic databases:

1. **Google Scholar** (via WebSearch): `WebSearch "[keywords] site:scholar.google.com"`
2. **arXiv** (via `/arxiv` if available, or WebSearch): Search for preprints
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE df10f47a9c7b87cf

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