PatentRef vs io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server
PatentRef is an MCP server published by patentref. Marketplaces we read that list it: 1 (Official MCP Registry). io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server is an MCP server published by smythmyke. Marketplaces we read that list it: 1 (Official MCP Registry). As of our marketplace pass on 2026-11-13. This pair was picked by a reader, not by our comparison rule, so search engines are asked not to index the page.
Where each is published
| Marketplace |  PatentRef |  io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server |
|---|---|---|
| Official MCP Registry | Listed Version: 0.4.1 Forks (GitHub): 0 Stars (GitHub): 0 Not marked · First seen |
Listed Version: 0.5.0 Downloads/month (npm): 196 Downloads/week (npm): 93 Forks (GitHub): 0 Stars (GitHub): 2 Not marked · First seen |
Each figure is the marketplace's own and is never added up across marketplaces. A marketplace that publishes no figure shows none: no number is not zero.
The facts side by side
| Fact | PatentRef | io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplaces that list it | 1 | 1 |
| Stars (GitHub) (differs) | 0 (worse) | 2 (better) |
| Forks (GitHub) | 0 | 0 |
| Last release (differs) | 2026-11-11 | Not published |
| Where it runs (differs) | On your machine (patentref-mcp) | On your machine (patent-search-mcp-server) |
| Transport | stdio | stdio |
| Tools it declares | Not published | Not published |
| Environment variables it asks for | 2, secrets among them: 1 | 2, secrets among them: 1 |
| Licence | Not stated | Not stated |
| Repository (differs) | github.com/patentref/patentref-mcp | github.com/smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server |
| Changes in the last 7 days (differs) | 2 | 0 |
| First seen (differs) | 2026-11-05 | 2026-10-11 |
Lines where the two differ have a tinted background and bold values. Where the data itself says which value is better (more marketplaces, a larger figure of the same marketplace, a fresher release, a verified mark on a marketplace that lists both), the better one is also marked green with ▲ and the worse one red with ▼. Where it runs, the transport, the tools, the settings, hooks, the bundle's parts, the licence and the week's changes are marked only as different: more or fewer is not better in itself.
What each says it does
PatentRef
PatentsView-compatible US patent API: claim trees, patent briefs and search, grants 1976 to now.
io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server
Patent dossiers, prosecution, claims + a legal layer (PTAB, litigation, term) + AI risk. USPTO.
How to run each
PatentRef As a local MCP server: PyPI package
claude mcp add --env "PATENTREF_API_KEY=<YOUR_PATENTREF_API_KEY>" --transport stdio patentref-mcp -- uvx patentref-mcpRequires: PATENTREF_API_KEY (secret)
io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server As a local MCP server: npm package
claude mcp add --env "PATENT_SEARCH_API_KEY=<YOUR_PATENT_SEARCH_API_KEY>" --transport stdio patent-search-mcp-server -- npx -y patent-search-mcp-serverRequires: PATENT_SEARCH_API_KEY (secret)
Commands built only from what the marketplaces declare; the full set for every client is on each card.
Tools each declares
Neither one's marketplaces publish a list of tools, so there is nothing to compare.
Settings each asks for
Only PatentRef asks for
PATENTREF_API_KEY (secret)PATENTREF_BASE
Only io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server asks for
PATENT_SEARCH_API_BASEPATENT_SEARCH_API_KEY (secret)
Settings as each marketplace publishes them. Asking for fewer is not better in itself.
What it can do: PatentRef · What it can do: io.github.smythmyke/patent-search-mcp-server · Compare two other plugins
Data comes from the Official MCP Registry (registry.modelcontextprotocol.io), CC0 1.0. Figures come from our own regular passes over the marketplaces, last read on . We publish no contact details for plugin publishers.