How do i find out if there is other patents alredy out there that are alike?????

Question

I would like to know if there is somthing alike out, or if someone alredy has patent such as idea, how can i serch .

thank you

Answer 1

The answer to any question that begins: "How do I find out" is of course:

Google it, or in this case Google/patents it:

http://www.google.com/patents?id=iSlrAAA...

I believe the results are limited to U.S. Patents and published applications.  But, chances are if its patented anywhere, its patented in the U.S.

Answer 2

Do a prior art search on (for example) the IBM patent server.  I believe that the US patent office also offers access to patent research, but I have not used them to date.  May I safely assume you are not patenting a spell checking algorithm?  =) ha ha...