For businesses, patent firms and in-house counsel
China Freedom to Operate Analysis
Planning to manufacture, import, use or sell a product in China? We help define the proposed activity and investigate relevant third-party patent rights. The analysis focuses on a specific product or process, territory and search date; it is not a guarantee that no infringement claim can arise.
Start with the commercial activity
We agree the product version, technical features, intended acts in China, search scope and relevant date. A change in the product or market can change the analysis. A patentability search asks a different question: whether an invention may qualify for protection.
Search, screen and analyze
Depending on scope, we search and screen relevant patent documents, check available legal-status information, and compare priority claims with the product or process. Published pending applications are flagged as potential future risks rather than treated as granted patents. Status and claim versions must be verified against authoritative records.
What the work product can include
The agreed deliverables may include a screened patent list, search scope and cut-off date, claim charts for selected patents, evidence gaps, and a discussion of options such as design changes, licensing, validity review or monitoring. The depth of each item depends on the engagement.
An illustrative comparison
For example, if a claim requires a sensor, a controller and an automatic adjustment, a claim chart can map each limitation to the known product features and identify missing evidence. This is a hypothetical illustration, not a client case or an infringement conclusion.
Limits and sources
Search databases can have publication delays and incomplete data; claim interpretation, evidence and legal status may change. FTO is a risk assessment rather than a guarantee. See the WIPO PATENTSCOPE glossary and CNIPA’s reference translation of the Chinese Patent Law, particularly Articles 11 and 22. Sources checked 3 November 2026.
Related services
Office action response · China patent reexamination · Patent disputes
We agree the scope, responsibilities and fees for each matter. Submitting an inquiry does not create an engagement.