The first step in seeking patent protection is to find out if the invention is patentable. The first step to patenting has two connected parts. A prior art search, and a patentability evaluation.

A Patentability Opinion starts with the research to find all the products and inventions similar to an invention that you want to patent. It is done to determine if your idea or invention claim is disclosed in the existing patents, patent applications, and non patent literature from around the world. In other words, it is done to find out whether the invention (or an obvious precursor) is already written about somewhere in the world.
The first step in seeking patent protection is to find out if the invention is patentable. The first step to patenting has two connected parts. A prior art search, and a patentability evaluation.