What does a patent analyst do?
Being a patent analyst involves comparing products that are already in the market to new inventions and innovations. You will be responsible for ensuring and upholding government assurance of the originality and ownership of an invention. Patent analysis involves the examination of every aspect of an invention, including the blueprints, the pieces, the assembly, the raw material used, and etc. The role requires the evaluation of uses and specifications of an invention, classification, and then a written report based on the analysis.
Patent analyst responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real patent analyst resumes:
- Manage and provide responses to incoming subpoenas and discovery requests relating to underwriting files and policy and accounting information.
- Conduct invalidation search, freedom-to-operate search and landscape studies in USPTO, EPO, WIPO and Chinese patent database SIPO
- Perform patentability, invalidity, freedom to operate (FTO), and evidence of use searches.
- Evaluate complex patent portfolios for licensing value and litigation suitability.
- Review completed applications for compliance with USPTO contract and quality requirements.
- Manage and provide responses to incoming subpoenas and discovery requests relating to underwriting files and policy and accounting information.
- Draft several patent applications relating to DNA diagnostic technologies.
Patent analyst skills and personality traits
We calculated that 19% of Patent Analysts are proficient in Search Reports, Technical Aspects, and Medical Devices. They’re also known for soft skills such as Problem-solving skills, Research skills, and Speaking skills.
We break down the percentage of Patent Analysts that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Search Reports, 19%
Conveyed search results in written search reports and bibliographic databases, utilizing advanced Excel and Word techniques.
- Technical Aspects, 11%
Review and gain an understanding of technical aspects of client inventions and technical search concepts.
- Medical Devices, 7%
Prepared and prosecuted patent applications disclosing innovative technology involving micro-processing chips, computer disk drives, bio-medical devices, and telecommunications.
- USPTO, 7%
Reviewed completed applications for compliance with USPTO contract and quality requirements.
- Mechanical Engineering, 6%
Examined for the dynamic magnetic/optical information storage and retrieval knowledge areas in collaboration with mechanical engineering, manufacturing and products technologies.
- Freedom-To-Operate, 6%
Completed client-based searches for patentability (novelty), validity, freedom-to-operate and infringement in electrical fields.
Common skills that a patent analyst uses to do their job include "search reports," "technical aspects," and "medical devices." You can find details on the most important patent analyst responsibilities below.
Problem-solving skills. The most essential soft skill for a patent analyst to carry out their responsibilities is problem-solving skills. This skill is important for the role because "lawyers must evaluate information to propose viable solutions, mediate disputes, and reach agreements or settlements for their clients." Additionally, a patent analyst resume shows how their duties depend on problem-solving skills: "applied codes to the resolution of new patent applications. "
Research skills. Another essential skill to perform patent analyst duties is research skills. Patent analysts responsibilities require that "lawyers need to find laws and regulations that apply to a specific matter in order to provide appropriate legal advice for their clients." Patent analysts also use research skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "conduct general patent litigation research, including developing infringement reads, locating infringing products, and patent due diligence. "
Analytical skills. A commonly-found skill in patent analyst job descriptions, "analytical skills" is essential to what patent analysts do. Patent analyst responsibilities rely on this skill because "lawyers interpret the law as it applies to their client’s case." You can also see how patent analyst duties rely on analytical skills in this resume example: "conducted online searches of proprietary databases for related patent material. "
Communication skills. While "communication skills" is last on this skills list, don't underestimate its importance to patent analyst responsibilities. Much of what a patent analyst does relies on this skill, seeing as "lawyers must be able to clearly present and explain information to clients, opposing parties, and other members of the legal community." Here is a resume example of how this skill is used in the everyday duties of patent analysts: "reviewed and assessed validity of incoming patent applications in the area of wired and wireless communication networks. "
The three companies that hire the most patent analysts are:
- Entegris3 patent analysts jobs
- InterDigital3 patent analysts jobs
- Aon2 patent analysts jobs
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Compare different patent analysts
Patent analyst vs. Council member
The job of legal administrative assistants is to provide support to lawyers and paralegals. They typically perform legal research, manage schedules, and draft legal-related documents. Other duties include interpreting laws, regulations, and rulings in legal documents, obtaining information from other agencies or organizations, and preparing management and legal reports. In addition, legal administrative assistants are responsible for updating and maintaining databases and ensuring to provide effective administrative assistance. They are also expected to schedule client meetings and court hearings.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a patent analyst are more likely to require skills like "gps," "search reports," "technical aspects," and "medical devices." On the other hand, a job as a council member requires skills like "public policy," "finance committee," "community outreach," and "alumni." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
The education levels that council members earn slightly differ from patent analysts. In particular, council members are 4.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a patent analyst. Additionally, they're 10.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Patent analyst vs. Legal administrator
A Housing Counselor works directly with clients and organizations to support moderate and low-income clients in overcoming barriers to housing and financial stability. They represent the homeowner in interventions and/or mediation proceedings with the mortgage servicer, lender, and/or other stakeholders.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real patent analyst resumes. While patent analyst responsibilities can utilize skills like "gps," "search reports," "technical aspects," and "medical devices," legal administrators use skills like "veterans," "powerpoint," "law firm," and "legal research."
Legal administrators earn a lower average salary than patent analysts. But legal administrators earn the highest pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $54,616. Additionally, patent analysts earn the highest salaries in the technology with average pay of $117,694 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Legal administrators tend to reach lower levels of education than patent analysts. In fact, they're 9.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 10.6% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Patent analyst vs. Housing counselor
A Litigation Associate offers legal advice for individuals involved in lawsuits and represents them in court. They prepare pleading, collect evidence, defend depositions, and manage the client database.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from patent analyst resumes include skills like "gps," "search reports," "technical aspects," and "medical devices," whereas a housing counselor is more likely to list skills in "in-house counsel," "social work," "regulatory compliance," and "crisis intervention. "
Housing counselors make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $91,338. On the other hand, patent analysts are paid the highest salary in the technology industry, with average annual pay of $117,694.housing counselors typically earn lower educational levels compared to patent analysts. Specifically, they're 9.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 12.9% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Patent analyst vs. Litigation associate
Even though a few skill sets overlap between patent analysts and litigation associates, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a patent analyst might have more use for skills like "gps," "search reports," "technical aspects," and "medical devices." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of litigation associates require skills like "law firm," "legal research," "commercial litigation," and "discovery motions. "
The professional industry tends to pay the highest salaries for litigation associates, with average annual pay of $151,203. Comparatively, the highest patent analyst annual salary comes from the technology industry.In general, litigation associates hold lower degree levels compared to patent analysts. Litigation associates are 15.2% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 41.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of patent analyst
Updated January 8, 2025
