A patentability opinion can help you make an informed assessment as to whether to move forward with a patent application for a given invention. In some cases, the expenses required for a patentability opinion can be rolled into a freedom to practice opinion (by expanding the scope of the search conducted in the freedom to practice opinion), which helps reduce the total costs involved. However, in other instances, an applicant may find it most cost effective to bypass a patentability search and opinion and proceed directly to filing a patent application.