Patents are an important source of technical information as well as being a tool for protecting innovations. This aspect of patents are mostly overlooked, though. Throughout the world a serious amount of Research & Developments efforts are wasted on inventions that have already been invented. Therefore before starting an R&D work it is very important to make sure that the prior art is mastered by the researchers.  This is only possible with a regular tracking of patent publications in the relevant field of technology. Although a single and comprehensive search is indispensible before starting to work on the project, this is not sufficient. The search should start even before the first idea and continue during and after.