How do I know that the patent I want to apply for has not been applied for?

In legal terminology, novelty search is needed. Novelty retrieval is a highly professional job, and it should be difficult for you to complete the procedure of understanding patents by yourself now. You'd better find a professional to help you finish it. Specifically, you can find a patent agent to assist you. In fact, there is a service charge for finding an agency, so in order to save money, you can actually apply for an invention patent directly, and the examiner will conduct a complete search of your invention during the substantive examination.

Novelty retrieval is mainly to evaluate the novelty and creativity of patent scheme. You may be interested in the specific terms. Please refer to Article 22 of China Patent Law:

Inventions and utility models granted patent rights should be novel, creative and practical.

Novelty means that the invention or utility model does not belong to the prior art; Before the filing date, no unit or individual filed an application for the same invention or utility model with the administrative department for patent in the State Council, and it was recorded in the patent application documents published or announced after the filing date.

Creativity means that compared with the prior art, the invention has outstanding substantive features and remarkable progress, and the utility model has substantive features and progress.

Practicality means that the invention or utility model can be manufactured or used and can produce positive effects.

The existing technology mentioned in this law refers to the technology known to the public at home and abroad before the date of application.

If you still want to try your own search, there is a website called soopat (the address can be Baidu), you can check it through soopat.