The search report is one of the first steps undertaken to determine patentability and to guide the patent attorney and help him realize where in the application any potential conflicts in language lean towards other patents and/or potentially applications.
This is done to avoid conflicts during the rest of the process and guide the applicant through the process. Any encumbrances in that process then need further investigation and/or modifications until the application can go to publication.
You now see it has been published....you do know what that means right?