There are numerous new fields in the sphere of technology and technological intelligence. Two of them are nano-technology and biotechnology.
As a result, there are growing calls for patent research in fields such as electronics, microprocessors, networking, internet, and software technologies. Patent research covers patent searching, Freedom-to-Operate searching, patent infringement and charting, and proofreading. There must be wide ranging, technical discussions and internal peer reviews at different stages of the work which will ensure quality and accuracy. The inventions described and the claims must be carefully studied. The most appropriate search strategy must be determined, and the results and review be presented.

The patent data is used to a very large extent for competitive research and for improvements within a company.
The growing need for patent research leads to increased costs. Now, therefore, more and more of the legal work usually carried out by junior lawyers in American patent law firms is being outsourced to countries like India which is fast emerging as a patent research center. The main reasons being for this are it is cost effective as well as competent. Indian attorneys and engineers speak English, are all well educated ( many of them in the US itself), are trained in patent searching and the technical drafting of patent applications, and are comparatively cheaper, their charges being one-third to one-half of their American counterparts. Another advantage is the zone differential that helps increase productivity.
LPO vendors offer comprehensive technology-based searches that cover both, patent and non-patent literature searches through sources such as the USPTO, the WIPO, the EPO, and others.
However, in spite of the obvious advantages of outsourcing, one should contemplate it only after carefully consideration particularly with regard to the need for preserving client confidentiality. Many potential snags could be avoided by the LPO also having American ties rather than only Indian ties. Personnel can be trained according to one’s expectations, a closer supervision can be provided, and deliverables can be managed. Thus there is a true partnership between client and LPO. The LPO can understand the exact requirements of a client as well as depend on American quality assurance processes. Mindcrest Inc. in Chicago, for example, has an outsourcing facility in Mumbai which employs about 200 lawyers, and plans to add that many more.
President of the Chicago Bar Association’s law office technology committee, Paul Bernstein, has been quoted as saying, “The research work done by lawyers in other countries is excellent. It is a fraction of the cost (of legal services here), and the turnaround time is faster, too.”