This record as markdown: /tools/creativelead-unclick/search-patents.md
What search_patents does on UnClick
AI agents call search_patents to retrieve information from UnClick without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
query | string | — | |
status | string | — | |
api_key | string | — |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why search_patents is rated Low
This tool retrieves patent information from a public database (IP Australia). Search operations are read-only with no side effects, data modification, code execution, or destructive capabilities. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—an AI agent could perform excessive searches but cannot alter patent records or access sensitive information beyond what is publicly available.
From the tool's definition Tool name 'search_patents' and description 'Search Australian patents via IP Australia' indicate a query/search operation with no modification of data.
Risk signalsAccepts freeform code/query input (query) · Handles credentials or secrets (api_key)
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs search_patents safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and UnClick, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For search_patents, this is the rule to start with:
search_patents is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect UnClick, apply this rule, and every search_patents call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about search_patents
Search Australian patents via IP Australia. It is categorised as a Read tool in the UnClick MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
search_patents accepts 3 parameters: query, status, api_key. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the UnClick MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for search_patents: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches UnClick. Nothing to install.
search_patents is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the search_patents rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for search_patents. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
search_patents is provided by the UnClick MCP server (creativelead/unclick). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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