This may necessitate the searcher to be fluent in a foreign language or have access to a translator. Databases with translated abstracts alone may not contain enough information about what is disclosed in the patent's specification to be of use. Domestic When searching domestic prior art, both computer and manual searching of United States Patents is desirable. Additionally, databases containing domestic publications should also be searched. The searcher's education and experience in a given field can greatly affect the quality of the search.
Some firms have experts in fields varying from pharmaceuticals to semiconductors.
For example, a searcher experienced in electronics would not be a good choice for an invention dealing with biotechnology. Another criteria may be the need for the searcher to have an advanced degree or substantial work experience in the particular field. The particular invention and the circumstances of the inventor will typically dictate the cost of the search. A sole inventor working in their garage on a better mouse trap will not be able to spend as much as a researcher for a large pharmaceutical company working on a cure for cancer. Generally, the more thorough the search the more the patent will be worth.