Australian Patent Search

Yes. Searching on ATMOSS is free and you don't need an account. The results come from IP Australia's official patent database, which is also free to access. Reading patent applications that are open to public inspection is free too.

Start with keywords that describe what the invention does rather than what you'd call it, and try several synonyms. Then narrow the results with an IPC classification or a filing date range, and check the status of anything that looks close. Keep in mind that an Australian patent search only covers Australia, while novelty is assessed worldwide, so a thorough check also covers international databases. A clear search is a good sign, but it isn't a legal clearance.

Enter the application or patent number in the search box, or open the structured search and choose Application number. Most Australian application numbers filed since 2002 begin with the four-digit year of filing followed by six more digits. In Australia a granted patent keeps the number of the application it came from, so one number finds both.

AusPat was IP Australia's long-running public patent search system. In 2024 IP Australia introduced its new Australian Patent Search as the replacement, using the same underlying database. ATMOSS sends your search to IP Australia's current service, so you don't need to keep track of which system is in use.

No. ATMOSS is an independent gateway operated by Local Directive Services and is not affiliated with IP Australia or the Australian Government. We make the official databases easier to reach; we don't host, change or reinterpret the data. To file an application or for anything official, go to IP Australia directly.

An application has been filed but not yet examined and accepted, so it doesn't yet give the applicant enforceable rights. A granted patent has passed examination and is in force. You'll also see provisional applications, which hold a priority date for 12 months but are never granted on their own, and innovation patents, which closed to new filings on 26 August 2021 but can still appear in results until they expire.

No. Applications are confidential until they become open to public inspection, which is usually 18 months after the earliest priority date. Once published they appear in search results, and you can browse the newest ones in our patent applications open to public inspection section.

Each search queries IP Australia's live patent database, so results are as current as IP Australia's own search. We don't keep a separate copy of the register.

Not on its own. Patent examiners assess novelty and inventiveness against everything published anywhere in the world, including overseas patents, journal articles and products already on the market. A search here is a sensible first step, but before you rely on it, or spend money on an application, talk to a registered patent attorney. ATMOSS doesn't provide legal advice.

Yes. ATMOSS also offers an Australian trade mark search, a design search and a Plant Breeders' Rights search, all drawing on IP Australia's official databases. If you're checking a business or product name, start with the trade mark search.